With all the technology that unfolds in a war, it surprises how at some times it returns to tactics from other times. Russia He has been forced to do so and to resort to unconventional means of transport in the invasion of Ukraineas Horses, camels and donkeysin recent months. Now, an image published by the Ukrainian medium Defense Express shows what can be considered the most unusual ‘weapon’ of the Russian army: A donkey equipped with an anti -Didate device and the essential helmetsince now it is part of the Armed Forces of Russia, in their head.
The image, whose source is Omega Ngu (Special Forces Unit of the Ukraine National Guard), it is comic, but it reflects another reality of this war of the 21st century in many aspects.
Russian Army Anti-Drone Donkey in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/b5r9nw8uri
– Visegrád 24 (@Visegra24) May 3, 2025
Omega NGU operators, according to the medium, took a bit to a joke designating the animal ‘Burro-3000’classifying it as ‘Burro-Plus Electronic War Station’ and giving him a status of ‘In Combat Service’. Among its reported capabilities are ‘Interception of nearby goat signals’, ‘demoralize Ukrainian drones by pure absurd’ and ‘Send enemy staff to a state of tactical confusion’. For this reason they recommended their ‘immediate deployment in Syria, Africa or even the moon. It exceeds 80 % of the mobilized Russian troops’.
Tactics of the fifteenth century in the war of the 21st century
Last March, The New York Post reported how the Kremlin was applying tactics of the fifteenth century in Ukraine using Horses and donkeys for transport of troops and supplies. This unconventional tactic allows to perform Logistics tasks with lower risk of being detected by enemy drones that can easily identify and attack armored vehicles.
This caused kyiv’s mockery, but Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolevmember of the Russian State Duma Defense Committeehe replied to the RTVI medium that is not a crazy idea, that horses and donkeys are useful to cross the muddy field And they cost less than if a replenishment vehicle with several soldiers and eliminated will be deployed. ‘Any medium destined to preserve the life of our soldiers in the military operation area is valid’he added.
It should be noted that the use of horses on the snowy battlefield It goes back to the shared cosaca heritage of Ukraine and Russiaa seminomated people famous for their horse battles that were given autonomy in exchange for the military service for the Russian Empire.
Sobolev added that these animals have advantage in wooded areas where vehicles face difficulties. “You better kill a donkey than two men in a vehicle,” he said.
But the use of donkeys in the front also generates inconveniences. According to the Military Telegram Channel, the animals ‘They caused several new problems, such as the need for regular food and specific veterinary care’.
On the other hand, Telegram’s Crimean Wind channel reported that the Russian army is also using Camells for Transportationspreading a photograph of a Russian soldier mounted in one. It is unknown what type of load they transport or if they are being used for the deployment of troops.