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Russian Forces Reportedly Using Golf Carts Amid Equipment Depletion in Ukraine
Facing significant equipment losses, the Russian army in Ukraine is reportedly resorting to utilizing golf carts for troop advancement, marking a potential setback for Moscow’s military operations. According to a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian military sources indicated that Russian forces launched a company-sized mechanized assault near Yasenove, situated in the Pokrovsk region. This assault, aimed at seizing the villages of Bohdanivka, Troitske, and Horikhove, resulted in substantial Russian casualties.
Ukrainian Forces Claim to Repel Russian Assaults, Inflicting Heavy Losses
Ukrainian tactical groups reported repelling the aforementioned assault on Monday, detailing the destruction of Russian military assets. These losses reportedly included two tanks, two armored personnel carriers, four all-terrain vehicles, four motorcycles, and as many as 50 soldiers during the engagement near Yasenove.
The ISW report corroborated these claims, stating: “Geolocated footage from April 7 confirms that Ukrainian forces successfully repelled another company-sized Russian mechanized assault near Sribne, southwest of Pokrovsk, on April 6. During this separate incident, Ukrainian forces are said to have damaged three armored vehicles and five tanks.”
Reports Indicate Surge in Russian Equipment Losses and Unconventional Vehicle Use
Further underscoring the challenges faced by Russian forces, a Ukrainian brigade commander operating in the Pokrovsk area stated on April 8 that while Russia has increased the deployment of armored vehicles, they have also begun employing less conventional modes of transport such as motorcycles and golf carts for advancements. This shift in tactics reportedly coincides with a significant increase in Russian equipment losses, with another Ukrainian brigade in the region reporting a tripling of losses since negotiations commenced, potentially referencing mid-February.
Russian Advances Remain Marginal Despite Continued Assaults
Despite ongoing mechanized assaults, particularly west of Preobrazhenka, southwest of Pokrovsk, experts indicate that Russian forces have only made marginal gains towards the Donetsk-Dnipropetrovsk administrative border. As of the ISW report, Russian forces had not yet advanced the remaining three kilometers into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
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Concerns Raised Over Deployment of Medically Unfit Soldiers in Russian Assaults
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly alleged a concerning practice within the Russian military command structure. Reports suggest that Russian military leadership is deploying wounded and medically unfit soldiers in assault operations. This tactic is purportedly employed to draw Ukrainian fire, thereby revealing Ukrainian positions prior to attacks by better-equipped and trained Russian units.
ISW Suggests Potential Reforms to Address Military Practices and Budgetary Issues
The ISW report suggests that Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has the authority to halt these reported “abuses” if the Ministry of Defence were to prioritize addressing the issue. Furthermore, the ISW speculates that the Kremlin may be attempting to address budgetary concerns by centralizing oversight of medical evaluations for wounded service members. This centralization could potentially aim to limit the number of future veterans of the conflict in Ukraine who would qualify for state-sponsored support.