Electric scooters: Russian forces' surprising frontline mobility
The war in Ukraine is filled with surprising scenes that seem more suited to action movies than real life. One such example is Russian forces' use of electric scooters in front-line regions. We discuss the reasons behind their use and their advantages and disadvantages.
Three years ago, many regarded the Russians as the second most powerful military in the world. However, they now find themselves in a situation similar to that of a Third World country, unable to provide adequate transportation for their soldiers. As a result, they resort to improvised solutions. Ukrainians use similar methods but do not have the same global influence as Russia.
In an attempt to increase their odds of survival, Russian soldiers use electric motorcycles, bikes, and scooters. Below, you can see footage of Russian soldiers retreating from a defensive position using electric scooters purchased with their own money. These scooters reportedly allow for a journey of 35 kilometres on paved roads.
Frontline scooters used by Russians — here's what they're using
Russians use off-road variants of scooters, as only these can navigate damaged roads. Such models can be purchased on the Polish market at prices ranging from about CAD 650 to CAD 3,300. They typically offer a carrying capacity of up to 150 kilograms, but for a soldier with weapons and gear, a carrying capacity of 200 kilograms would be preferable, which is less common.
The range, however, is highly dependent on the battery and electric motor used. There are models with a power of 1000W and a battery capacity of 17.5Ah, as well as models with a power of 10000W and a battery capacity of 40Ah. Additionally, their batteries can serve as power banks, charging for electronic equipment in the field, where access to electricity is scarce.
The benefit of such a means of transport is the ability to move quickly at speeds of up to 60 km/h while maintaining a low noise level, as the electric motor is practically silent compared to a combustion engine motorcycle.
However, it is important to note that if detected by the enemy and attacked by FPV drones, the chance of survival is minimal. Drones are faster than any scooter or dirt bike, as footage of FPV drones successfully targeting fleeing individuals has demonstrated multiple times.
