The Russian military re-equipped a VAZ-21099 sedan into an improvised protected passenger-cargo pickup truck. To do this, they reinforced the frame, removed part of the rear body, and installed a superstructure covered with a metal mesh for protection against drones. The work was carried out in the field by the servicemen themselves.
Such modifications of civilian equipment in the combat zone are becoming more common. Their main task is to adapt ordinary vehicles to conditions where standard equipment is either unavailable or vulnerable. In such designs, the focus is not on factory solutions, but on available materials and speed of manufacturing.
However, such modifications always remain a compromise. Reinforced frames and mesh structures can protect against FPV drones, large fragments, or other mechanical impacts, but they do not replace full-fledged armor protection. Nevertheless, in field conditions, such solutions allow expanding the functionality of old cars and extending their use.