The Russian military is using lighter and faster all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-road motorbikes in Ukraine to transport personnel and conduct attacks on Ukrainian positions. These vehicles are also being used for reconnaissance missions due to their mobility. However, the lack of armor on these ATVs makes them vulnerable to Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes.
Recent social media videos confirm the increased use of these lighter vehicles by Russia in Ukraine. Footage shows Russian troops being chased by a Ukrainian drone in a golf cart-like vehicle. Another video allegedly shows a Russian soldier driving a Chinese-supplied Desertcross 1000-3 ATV, of which more than 2,000 were delivered to Moscow in 2023.
The emergence of these light vehicles in Ukraine may indicate that Russian forces are facing shortages of armored vehicles, having lost over 4,900 armored combat vehicles since the invasion began in February 2022, according to a UK Ministry of Defence estimate. This shift in tactics could be a result of the need to compensate for these losses on the battlefield.
