Russia is now sending soldiers into battle on motorcycles in Ukraine, as its military struggles with high losses of armoured vehicles. The Institute for the Study of War has reported that the Kremlin is preparing to make motorcycles a regular part of its tactics during summer and autumn 2025. This comes after footage showed Russian forces training with motorcycles, likely aiming to escape detection from Ukraine’s highly effective drone units.
The move follows months of Russian failure to make significant gains in Donetsk, where towns like Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar have withstood repeated attacks. Due to equipment shortages and the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone warfare, Russia has begun using motorcycles, scooters and even civilian cars in assaults.
Ukrainian intelligence confirms this shift, with troops observed practising fast-moving, noisy tactics that ironically make it harder to detect Ukrainian drones. While Russian propaganda promotes these changes as smart innovations, military analysts say it reflects desperation and poor planning.
