Electric scooters: Russia's surprising new battlefield tactic
The Russian army is using unconventional methods to gain an advantage on the battlefield. One of these attempts involves attacking Ukrainian positions using electric scooters. But how effective are such means of transport in warfare?
The war in Ukraine, ongoing for just under three years, is undoubtedly one of the most well-documented conflicts in history. The abundance of materials provides people with insight into the realities of the battlefield, and some of these recordings reveal the unconventional methods that soldiers employ. This time, the Russians have chosen electric scooters over tanks.
Russian assault on electric scooters
The Ukrainian "Azov" Brigade shared a video on YouTube showing a Russian attack and the effective defense by Ukrainian forces. Notably, there is a segment where a group of Russian soldiers advances on electric scooters. Interestingly, this is not the first documented attack by Russians using scooters.
Previously, assaults have been observed with motorcycles or electric bicycles. The question emerges: is this strategy effective and, more importantly, why are the Russians choosing this mode of transport?
Does an electric scooter make sense on the frontlines?
"In recent months, during massive attacks, the enemy has lost many armoured vehicles. Thus, today, the Russians resort to using cars, buggies, and even electric scooters on a large scale," reads the video's description. This form of attack may be due to a lack of better transportation options.
The Russian army uses off-road versions of electric scooters designed for movement over damaged surfaces. Such equipment ranges from $700 to $3,400 CAD. The most common carrying capacity is about 150 kg.
The advantage of electric scooters on the battlefield is their high mobility. Moving up to 60 km/h can provide a significant advantage. Additionally, they have a low acoustic signature as the electric motor is nearly silent. Moreover, the battery in an electric scooter can serve as a power bank.
However, an electric scooter does not offer any protection against gunfire. Also, in a confrontation with FPV drones, the scooter is at a disadvantage since the drones are generally faster than an electric scooter.
