Russian Forces on E-Scooters Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) reportedly targeted Russian soldiers attempting to utilize Chinese-manufactured e-scooters for combat deployment.
The unconventional maneuver involved three Russian Federation troops navigating a muddy terrain while pulling their electric scooters.
This unusual advance was recorded by the very drones that ultimately engaged and incapacitated them.
Drone Footage Captures Scooter Ambush
Dramatic video footage depicts a drone initially observing the soldiers’ movements before closing in on the unsuspecting unit.
The video shows one soldier encountering difficulty in the uneven ground, necessitating him to carry his scooter over an obstruction.
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Shift Towards Micromobility in Russian Military Tactics
Reports indicate a growing trend among Russian military command to employ smaller vehicles, including scooters, motorcycles, and quad bikes, to navigate challenging front-line terrain.
This dispersal tactic aims to mitigate the potential for mass casualties from drone strikes, compared to concentrating personnel in larger vehicles like tanks.
Prior Incidents and Expert Commentary
A similar instance was documented in Toretsk, eastern Ukraine, last December, where Ukrainian forces pursued retreating Russian soldiers on scooters along a damaged road using drones.
Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Pavlenko-Kryzheshevskyi, intelligence chief for the 12th Special Operations Brigade Azov, noted the increased presence of Russian forces at the front, with e-scooters becoming a common mode of transport.
In an interview with the New York Times, Lt. Col. Pavlenko-Kryzheshevskyi stated that while targeting a single vehicle carrying a large group is feasible, the dispersed nature of soldiers on e-scooters presents a significant challenge.
Russian soldiers traversing a field on e-scooters prior to drone engagement.
He emphasized the Russian military’s operational norm of deploying substantial numbers of soldiers, sometimes between 150 to 200, for offensive actions, highlighting their considerable reserve forces.
Last year, a separate attempt by Russian infantry to assault Ukrainian positions using golf carts also ended in failure, with all five vehicles destroyed.
Vehicle and Personnel Losses Impact Russian Strategy
This adaptation to smaller vehicles may be partially attributed to reported significant Russian losses, including an estimated 1,400 tanks in the preceding year, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
The think tank estimates Russia has lost 14,000 main battle tanks (MBTs), infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), and armored personnel carriers (APCs) since the conflict began in 2022.
The IISS suggests that despite efforts to replenish their depleted arsenal, Russia could exhaust its tank reserves by 2026.
Furthermore, British intelligence indicates that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in its highest troop casualties since World War II.
Russian military leadership has increasingly directed the utilization of smaller vehicles to navigate difficult terrain at the front.
Russia perceives dispersing troops as a method to decrease the risk of mass casualties from drone attacks.
Ukrainian drones have proven highly effective in neutralizing both small and large Russian vehicles.
The Ministry of Defence reports up to 250,000 Russian soldiers killed since 2022, with total casualties reaching 900,000.
Facing logistical challenges, the Russian military has also reportedly employed horses and donkeys for transporting personnel and supplies to the combat zone.
Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolev, a member of the Russian State Duma’s Defense Committee, informed Russian media that these animals are considered both cost-effective and efficient for logistical purposes.
Anton Gerashchenko, former advisor to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, commented last month that this tactic represents a regression to the logistical methods of the Russian Empire, complete with cavalry-style transport.
Russian forces are estimated to have gained approximately 1,300 square miles of territory in 2024, less than one percent of Ukraine’s total landmass.
Ukraine’s Use of Micromobility Vehicles
Ukraine has also deployed micromobility vehicles during the conflict, albeit primarily for specialized operations.
In December, a Russian general was reportedly assassinated in Moscow using a bomb attached to an electric scooter.
Reports from Bloomberg in 2022 indicated that modified electric bikes were utilized to transport anti-tank weaponry to the front lines.
Ukrainian snipers have also reportedly used quieter electric motorcycles for covert transportation to strategic positions.
Impact of Western Aid on Ukraine’s Defense
Despite significant depletion of Russian armed forces, Ukraine could face resource constraints if Western allies curtail or halt military assistance.
The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in the largest troop losses for the Russian military since World War II.
Russia continued its offensive in Ukraine, including overnight bombardment of Odessa.
Recent events include a temporary suspension of US aid to Ukraine by former President Donald Trump following a disagreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
While proposing to mediate peace, Trump’s efforts have reportedly only achieved a partial cessation of hostilities, with ongoing strikes on energy infrastructure and Black Sea confrontations.
Recent reports indicate renewed Russian attacks, including overnight drone strikes on a Ukrainian port and an explosion at a critical Russian gas pipeline.
Russian forces reportedly conducted extensive drone attacks on the port city of Odessa overnight, resulting in injuries to at least three individuals.