New images show Chinese-made armored vehicle with Russian soldiers in Ukraine

New images reportedly show Russian troops are using a Chinese-made armored vehicle in Ukraine according to a report from the Ukrainian military website Militarnyi. 

Images published by the Telegram channel Vodograi originally posted on the social medal network by the channel ‘Ugolok Sitha’ (Corner of the Sith) show Russian soldiers in front of a ZFB-05 Xinxing armored vehicle allegedly being used in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  

Photo Credit: Telegram @Ugolok_Sitha

“The images show the ZFB-05 Xinxing armored vehicle, equipped with anti-drone hood protection, reinforced windshield and side projection protection, and a machine gun nest,” Miltarnyi reported. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @Ugolok_Sitha

The news outlet also noted that ZFB-05 armored vehicles were first reportedly spotted with Russian troops in June 2023 being used by the Federal Service of the National Guard of the Russian Federation—a group more commonly referred to as Rosgvardia. 

“Eight of these armored vehicles were seen in service with the Chechen special rapid response unit Akhmat, which is part of the Russian Guard,” Militarnyi explained. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Легендарные подразделения от Геннадия Дубового, CC BY 3.0

“It is unclear whether the photos show a vehicle that belongs to Akhmatov forces, or whether the Russian Armed Forces are purchasing new vehicles,” Militarnyi added.

Photo Credit: Telegram @Ugolok_Sitha

It is also important to note that it is unclear if these images were taken inside Ukraine, but Ugolok Sitha did indicate in a description posted along with the images that the vehicles were inside Russia’s Special Military Operation zone in Ukraine. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @Ugolok_Sitha

This isn’t the first time in recent months that images of Chinese-made armored vehicles have been published online. In August 2024, images began circulating online showing a Chinese armored tactical vehicle in use by Moscow Metro. 

According to Newsweek, the Russian Telegram channel ‘Avtobusy y Vobbechle’ posted a picture of a Chinese Dongfeng armored vehicle with a description that read: "Moscow Metro continues to arm itself.”

Photo Credit: Telegram @busandall

Newsweek noted that the Russian Telegram channel normally covered public transport issues and explained that the channel reported the armored vehicle was bought by the security department responsible for the Moscow subway system 

Photo Credit: Telegram @busandall

Evidence lending some credence to the claim could be found on the Chinese armored vehicle itself since the black tactical vehicle had the logo of Moscow’s subway system emblazoned on the side of the armored truck in red paint. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @busandall

The pro-Russian media outlet Tsargrad also reported that the all-terrain vehicle in the image was allegedly registered as “civilian special equipment” and had a license plate that was normally reserved for tractors according to Newsweek. 

Photo Credit: Screenshot YouTube @user-zu8ku4iu5p

Defense News wrote that the sighting of the Chinese armored vehicle in Moscow “raises questions, as it is unusual for a metro system to require an armored vehicle,” and added that the license plate and weaponized turret were also concerning. 

Photo Credit: Screenshot YouTube @user-zu8ku4iu5p

“Even more perplexing is that the vehicle, which is classified in China as a military anti-terrorist vehicle capable of withstanding hits from the AK-47 rifle, has been given civilian “tractor” license plates in Russia,” Defense Express explained. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @busandall

Militarnyi also reported on claims and it identified the Chinese armored vehicle as the Dongfeng EQ2091XFB but noted the vehicle did not have the Chinese automobile Dongfeng’s logo on it. 

Photo Credit: Screenshot YouTube @user-zu8ku4iu5p

“The vehicle was transferred to Russia with an armored turret, usually equipped with a heavy machine gun,” Militaryni noted. It also pointed out that a Dongfeng EQ2091XFB costs $130,000 but can be twice as expensive when all its options are added. 

Photo Credit: Screenshot YouTube @user-zu8ku4iu5p

The Dongfeng EQ2091XFB is classified as an all-terrain vehicle in China and is offered to law enforcement agencies. Militarnyi also pointed out that this isn’t the first armored vehicle that the Moscow subway systems security unit has received in recent months. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @busandall

“Over the past four months, the Russian subway’s transport security unit has received its fourth ballistic-protected vehicle: the first was the RIDA Buran, then the Z-STS Akhmat, then the Patrol, and now the Chinese Dongfeng has joined them,” Militarnyi noted. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @busandall

Why Moscow Metro needed such vehicles for protecting its subway systems was questioned by Defense News, which noted that the “notion of an anti-terrorist armored vehicle for the metro operations [seemed] absurd.”

The most likely answer as to why Moscow bought such an advanced armored vehicle for its subway system’s protection was that the weapon was acquired to help establish a new internal security force approved by the Russian government in 2023. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @busandall

In April 2023, approved regulations allowing the Moscow mayor’s office to create a new security structure that could coordinate with Rosgvardiya (the National Guard of Russia) in the protection of the city’s subway system. 

“While the police will continue to guard the entrances and exits of the Moscow metro stations, the establishment of the departmental security service by the city has led to speculation and jokes among the Russians about the creation of the Metro private military company or a similar entity,” Defense News noted.

“However, these jokes may be taking on a more serious tone,” Defense News added, writing that there was speculation the security force could evolve into a private military company that could be deployed to the war in Ukraine.

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