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Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia likely plans to use motorcycles in offensives in Ukraine to offset drone threats, war experts say
Russia looks set to incorporate motorcycles into upcoming offensives, a US think tank said. It said Russia was likely trying to find a way around Ukraine's major drone capabilities. A Ukrainian officer said Russians are training on motorcycles and they're hard to stop with drones. Russia is likely readying to further incorporate motorcycles into its tactics for upcoming offensives against Ukraine, in order to offset drones, a US think tank said. "Russia is likely preparing to systematically integrate motorcycle usage into offensive operations in Ukraine for Summer and Fall 2025, likely to offset adept Ukrainian drone capabilities," the DC-based Institute for the Study of War said in a briefing over the weekend. It pointed to evidence of Russia training, as well as warnings from a Ukrainian military official and recent footage of Russian soldiers using motorcycles in Ukraine. The ISW highlighted comments from Ukraine's Lt. Col. Pavlo Shamshyn, the spokesman for the Kharkiv Group of Forces, who said that Russia was training its soldiers on combat tactics with motorcycles. Shamshyn said this suggested that Russia will carry out assault operations later this year using motorcycles, Ukrainian broadcaster Suspline reported. Shamshyn also said motorcycles could benefit Russia because many drones would be needed to stop a group of motorcycles, and because motorcycles can move fast and travel a long distance while drones are being prepared and launched. He said that one advantage for Ukraine is that the loud noise of motorcycles means Russian soldiers would likely not be able to hear the sound of Ukrainian drones approaching. Russia has already been seen using some motorcycles in Ukraine. An American veteran fighting for Ukraine told Business Insider in October that some Russian soldiers "have motorcycles and stupid golf carts." The ISW said it had seen an "increased trend of Russian units conducting mechanized and combined motorized assaults and transporting infantry with motorcycles and civilian vehicles throughout the frontline." It also pointed to footage shared by Ukraine's Tactical Group "Vuhledar," a unit in Ukraine's ground forces, that it said showed Russian forces having "recently advanced during a motorized assault near Bahatyr comprised entirely of motorcycles and civilian vehicles." The ISW described this latest development as part of the Russian command's efforts to adapt tactics to offset Ukrainian drone strikes, as well as to likely mitigate "the Russian military's equipment constraints resulting from high armored vehicle losses in Summer and early Fall 2024." Russia lost swathes of tanks and armored vehicles last year, while drones have played an increasingly important role in the conflict, taking over roles traditionally performed by soldiers and other weaponry. On April 26, Russia's defense ministry shared footage showing a soldier riding a motorcycle through a course with explosions going off around him. It said that some troops were being trained for both offensive and defensive combat. The ISW said the video likely showed "elements of the 299th (Airborne) VDV Regiment (98th VDV Division) practicing offensive and defensive tactics on motorcycles." It added that the video "indicates that the Russian military is likely developing a tactical doctrine for systematic offensive motorcycle usage and may be preparing to issue an increased number of motorcycles to Russian personnel in Ukraine." Russia was seen using fast but poorly protected vehicles like ATVs and motorbikes in Ukraine last year, according to the UK's Ministry of Defence. It described Russia as making a sacrifice for increased mobility, leaving its soldiers more vulnerable than they would be in heavier armored vehicles. "Ukrainian FPV drones have already demonstrated their ability to effectively target such light vehicles," it said. Reports from last year also pointed to Russian troops using quad bikes in Ukraine. Russia leaning further into this tactic could make its soldiers more vulnerable, but it could also create major problems for Ukraine's military. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Russia likely plans to use motorcycles in offensives in Ukraine to offset drone threats, war experts say
Russia is likely readying to further incorporate motorcycles into its tactics for upcoming offensives against Ukraine, in order to offset drones, a US think tank said. "Russia is likely preparing to systematically integrate motorcycle usage into offensive operations in Ukraine for Summer and Fall 2025, likely to offset adept Ukrainian drone capabilities," the DC-based Institute for the Study of War said in a briefing over the weekend. It pointed to evidence of Russia training, as well as warnings from a Ukrainian military official and recent footage of Russian soldiers using motorcycles in Ukraine. The ISW highlighted comments from Ukraine's Lt. Col. Pavlo Shamshyn, the spokesman for the Kharkiv Group of Forces, who said that Russia was training its soldiers on combat tactics with motorcycles. Shamshyn said this suggested that Russia will carry out assault operations later this year using motorcycles, Ukrainian broadcaster Suspline reported. Shamshyn also said motorcycles could benefit Russia because many drones would be needed to stop a group of motorcycles, and because motorcycles can move fast and travel a long distance while drones are being prepared and launched. He said that one advantage for Ukraine is that the loud noise of motorcycles means Russian soldiers would likely not be able to hear the sound of Ukrainian drones approaching. Already in use in Ukraine Russia has already been seen using some motorcycles in Ukraine. An American veteran fighting for Ukraine told Business Insider in October that some Russian soldiers "have motorcycles and stupid golf carts." The ISW said it had seen an "increased trend of Russian units conducting mechanized and combined motorized assaults and transporting infantry with motorcycles and civilian vehicles throughout the frontline." It also pointed to footage shared by Ukraine's Tactical Group "Vuhledar," a unit in Ukraine's ground forces, that it said showed Russian forces having "recently advanced during a motorized assault near Bahatyr comprised entirely of motorcycles and civilian vehicles." Russian training The ISW described this latest development as part of the Russian command's efforts to adapt tactics to offset Ukrainian drone strikes, as well as to likely mitigate "the Russian military's equipment constraints resulting from high armored vehicle losses in Summer and early Fall 2024." Russia lost swathes of tanks and armored vehicles last year, while drones have played an increasingly important role in the conflict, taking over roles traditionally performed by soldiers and other weaponry. On April 26, Russia's defense ministry shared footage showing a soldier riding a motorcycle through a course with explosions going off around him. It said that some troops were being trained for both offensive and defensive combat. The ISW said the video likely showed "elements of the 299th (Airborne) VDV Regiment (98th VDV Division) practicing offensive and defensive tactics on motorcycles." It added that the video "indicates that the Russian military is likely developing a tactical doctrine for systematic offensive motorcycle usage and may be preparing to issue an increased number of motorcycles to Russian personnel in Ukraine." Russia was seen using fast but poorly protected vehicles like ATVs and motorbikes in Ukraine last year, according to the UK's Ministry of Defence. It described Russia as making a sacrifice for increased mobility, leaving its soldiers more vulnerable than they would be in heavier armored vehicles. "Ukrainian FPV drones have already demonstrated their ability to effectively target such light vehicles," it said. Reports from last year also pointed to Russian troops using quad bikes in Ukraine. Russia leaning further into this tactic could make its soldiers more vulnerable, but it could also create major problems for Ukraine's military.
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Russia boosts motorcycle and quadbike tactics in Ukraine conflict
Listen to article Russia's military is expanding its use of small squads on motorcycles and quadbikes along Ukraine's frontlines, as it prepares for fresh offensives, according to Ukrainian officials and military analysts. The Russian Defence Ministry take a step to soldiers training in groups of two or three, riding motorbikes through a course to a pulsating electronic soundtrack. Russian forces have deployed motorcycles and quadbikes in several sectors of the front for over a year to try and evade Ukrainian drone surveillance. Ukraine expects a major Russian offensive in the coming months, as Moscow seeks to gain ground before any potential ceasefire agreement. Ukrainian commanders call the motorbike assaults "banzai attacks", referring to their high speed and high risk. "They can advance very quickly, get behind the lines," said Ukrainian commander Andriy Otchenash earlier this month, noting that Russian casualties from these tactics were heavy. The Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication said the motorcycle tactics showed Russia's shortage of heavier military equipment, but also its ability to adapt to battlefield conditions. On Saturday, Ukraine reported it had repelled a Russian assault on the village of Bahatyr, Donetsk region, destroying 15 motorcycles and killing around 40 Russian troops. Ukrainian military also highlighted drones striking motorbikes in open fields. Ukrainian officials also noted that Russian forces had been using more quadbikes around Chasiv Yar in Donetsk, where fighting has largely been static for the past year. Lt. Col. Pavlo Shamshyn said motorcycles offered speed and manoeuvrability but came with a major drawback: riders could not hear incoming drones because of the noise of the engines. Russian state media has been highlighting the benefits of deploying motorbike units. Troops can loading an injured soldier onto the back of a motorcycle in muddy fields. Last week, Russia Today reported that motorcyclists were being used to plant mines and featured an interview with a soldier from the 39th Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade, who is part of a newly formed motorbike group. "Our main advantage is the ability to drive straight into enemy positions and neutralise them," the soldier said. He added that the noise of the motorcycles caused panic among enemy troops, often forcing them to abandon their positions. The Russian military is also employing motorcycles for casualty evacuation. The Telegram channel of the Defence Ministry's outlet, Zvezda, reported last week that marines fighting in the Kursk region were using all-terrain bikes to evacuate wounded soldiers and civilians. Last year, the UK Ministry of Defence noted that Russian forces were increasingly using off-road and all-terrain vehicles for night-time assaults. However, it also warned that Ukrainian FPV drones, capable of striking directly at targets, had exposed the vulnerability of these lightly protected vehicles. In late 2023, President Vladimir Putin inspected Chinese-manufactured all-terrain vehicles purchased for the Russian army. At that time, around 500 had already been deployed, and the Defence Ministry had ordered approximately 1,500 more.
Telegraph
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russia forming motorbike columns to escape Ukraine's drones
Russia appears to be forming tactical motorcycle squads in an attempt to evade Ukrainian drone attacks. Moscow's defence ministry on Saturday released a video showing a paratrooper learning to storm enemy positions using a dirt bike at a Russian training ground. Dressed in full combat gear with a rifle slung across his back, the trooper speeds over hills and around tyres as explosions occur at the side of the track. 'Soldiers are practising offensive and defensive combat in two and three-man squads,' the caption reads. While Moscow's troops have used motorcycles in Ukraine for more than a year, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington said the new video indicates Russia is probably 'developing a tactical doctrine for systematic offensive motorcycle usage'. The Kremlin 'may be preparing to issue an increased number of motorcycles to Russian personnel in Ukraine' and could deploy the new tactics in the summer, the think tank added. It said the turn to motorbikes was probably an attempt to thwart Ukrainian drones, which increasingly dominate the battlefield and account for an estimated 70 per cent of casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Pavlo Shamshyn, a Ukrainian military spokesman, told the ISW that Russia is training its soldiers in motorbike combat tactics to increase their speed and manoeuvrability, which is crucial for evading drone strikes. However, the noise of the bikes prevents troops from hearing approaching drones, he noted. Lost armoured vehicles The ISW said it had observed an increase in Russian units using motorbikes for both transport and assaults. It also said Russia was increasingly using civilian cars for military purposes after it lost high numbers of armoured vehicles in summer and autumn 2024. In one recent incident near the town of Bahatyr, it said Russian forces attempted an assault consisting entirely of motorcycles and civilian vehicles. Ukrainian defence officials said they repelled the attack, destroying 15 out of 18 motorcycles and damaging nine of the other 10 vehicles. In Sumy, Russia is reported to be sending assault groups on quad bikes from the bordering Kursk region to grab footholds in Ukrainian territory before awaiting reinforcements. The use of motorbikes as assault vehicles is a novel military concept, although they were used extensively to deliver messages across the battlefield during the early 20th century.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia forming motorbike columns to escape Ukraine's drones
Credit: Telegram/MoD Russia Russia appears to be forming tactical motorcycle squads in an attempt to evade Ukrainian drone attacks. Moscow's defence ministry on Saturday released a video showing a paratrooper learning to storm enemy positions using a dirt bike at a Russian training ground. Dressed in full combat gear with a rifle slung across his back, the trooper speeds over hills and around tyres as explosions occur at the side of the track. 'Soldiers are practising offensive and defensive combat in two and three-man squads,' the caption reads. While Moscow's troops have used motorcycles in Ukraine for more than a year, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington said the new video indicates Russia is probably 'developing a tactical doctrine for systematic offensive motorcycle usage'. The Kremlin 'may be preparing to issue an increased number of motorcycles to Russian personnel in Ukraine' and could deploy the new tactics in the summer, the think tank added. It said the turn to motorbikes was probably an attempt to thwart Ukrainian drones, which increasingly dominate the battlefield and account for an estimated 70 per cent of casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Pavlo Shamshyn, a Ukrainian military spokesman, told the ISW that Russia is training its soldiers in motorbike combat tactics to increase their speed and manoeuvrability, which is crucial for evading drone strikes. However, the noise of the bikes prevents troops from hearing approaching drones, he noted. The ISW said it had observed an increase in Russian units using motorbikes for both transport and assaults. It also said Russia was increasingly using civilian cars for military purposes after it lost high numbers of armoured vehicles in summer and autumn 2024. In one recent incident near the town of Bahatyr, it said Russian forces attempted an assault consisting entirely of motorcycles and civilian vehicles. Ukrainian defence officials said they repelled the attack, destroying 15 out of 18 motorcycles and damaging nine of the other 10 vehicles. In Sumy, Russia is reported to be sending assault groups on quad bikes from the bordering Kursk region to grab footholds in Ukrainian territory before awaiting reinforcements. The use of motorbikes as assault vehicles is a novel military concept, although they were used extensively to deliver messages across the battlefield during the early 20th century. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
