Ukrainian border guards who captured an armoured Russian troop carrier have told how they plan to turn it against their invaders.

The battered personnel vehicle was claimed as a trophy after it was apparently abandoned by a retreating Russian, beaten back by Ukrainian troops.

The vehicle – complete with a Russian ‘V’ painted on the side – was found by members of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in the region of Kyiv Oblast as Russian forces pulled out.

The Ukrainian border service said the vehicle was not in working order when they found it, but promised to fix it up, give it a lick of paint, and put it to use “on the side of good”.

In a statement obtained by Newsflash, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said on 15th April: “Border guards found an armoured vehicle of the racists in the Kyiv region during measures to restore control over the state border, in areas where the invaders were thrown out.

“They found an armoured personnel carrier that lost the ability to move independently, which was moved to the border unit’s base.

“In the near future, the armoured personnel carrier will be restored, repainted and put in working order on the side of good to help fight the enemies of Ukraine.”

Russia invaded their neighbours Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin called a “special military operation” in the sovereign European country.

Today marks the 51st day of the invasion. From 24th February to 13th April, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at nearly 20,000 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 756 battle tanks, 1,976 combat armoured vehicles, 366 artillery systems, 115 MLR systems, 66 anti-aircraft systems, 163 warplanes, 144 helicopters, 1,443 vehicles, seven vessels, 76 fuel tank trucks, 135 operational-tactical level UAVs, 25 units of special equipment, and four mobile SRBM systems.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated Berlin’s support to Kyiv after Ukraine rejected a visit by President Steinmeier. Germany has vowed to send more weapons to Ukraine.