Russian forces turn to horses, donkeys for frontline supply runs

Defense Express reported the information.

More and more footage is appearing on social media showing that the Russians in the frontline zone have started using donkeys and horses to transport supplies to the front lines.

This trend is sparking a strong emotional reaction among the Russians themselves, and in our information space, different interpretations may arise - such as that Russian forces are using it to make up for the shortage of armored vehicles and transport destroyed in battles with Ukraine’s Armed Forces. However, the situation is more complex.

According to open-source data, by February 2022, at least two Russian army units officially had pack animals in their possession: the 55th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District and the 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Mountain Brigade of the Southern Military District.

In the case of the aforementioned 55th Brigade, the pack animals were Mongolian horses, while the 34th Brigade used Karachay horses, both specifically intended for logistical tasks in mountainous terrain. Interestingly, the Russian forces seriously practiced using such "pack transport" during various drills, and even claimed that the Ryazan Airborne School had its own herd of horses for combat training purposes.

“In this context, one could reasonably argue that we are far from the steppes of Mongolia or the mountains of the Caucasus, making the use of pack animals for logistical tasks by the Russians seem rather exotic,” the outlet noted.

However, there may be a certain logic behind this. Open-source materials indicate that Russian occupiers complain about the high activity of Ukrainian drones in the frontline zone, creating a several-kilometer-deep "gray zone" where no transport can safely pass. As a result, they are forced to use their personnel as "pack animals."

“In this light, the Russians' decision to use horses and donkeys may seem somewhat rational. However, the question remains whether this practice can be sustained in the long run,” the publication concluded.