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Russia Prepares Motorbike Units for Summer Offensive in Ukraine

Moscow is formalizing motorbike tactics to counter Ukrainian drone dominance, with training videos showcasing offensive strategies.

Russian soldiers ride a motorbike past destroyed houses in the village of Kazachya Loknya, which was previously held by Ukrainian troops and recently retaken by Russia's armed forces, in the Sudzha district of the Kursk region on March 18, 2025, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Participants attend a ceremony to hand over new motocross bikes to the Russian military near a football stadium in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, November 28, 2024.
Participants load motorcycles into a truck during a ceremony to hand over to the Russian military in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, November 28, 2024.
Recruits of the 1430th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment ride motorbikes during combat training in the Zaporizhzhia sector of the frontline on October 18, 2024. This image was provided to AP by a third party and could not be independently verified.

Overview

  • The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of paratroopers training with motorbikes for offensive and defensive operations, signaling a shift to systematic usage.
  • The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russia is likely to integrate motorbike squads into summer and fall offensives to evade Ukrainian drones.
  • Ukrainian forces recently repelled a Russian motorbike assault near Bahatyr, destroying 15 out of 18 motorcycles in the process.
  • Motorbikes offer speed and maneuverability but are vulnerable to drone strikes and hinder riders' ability to detect approaching drones.
  • Russian state media promotes motorbike units as effective for psychological impact on enemies and rapid assaults, despite high losses in recent operations.