Since the beginning of 2024, Russia has increased the use of light transport vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles and high-mobility motorcycles, to transport personnel to the front lines and conduct attacks on Ukrainian positions, especially during nighttime.
This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom on Twitter.
In November 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally inspected recently acquired Chinese Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles from Odes Industries. It is reported that Russia purchased over 2100 of these vehicles.
According to British intelligence, it is quite likely that Russian forces are increasingly resorting to the use of lighter and faster transport vehicles for reconnaissance of Ukrainian defensive positions to facilitate further strikes using artillery, FPV drones, or kamikaze drones.
"However, by sacrificing armor and firepower for increased mobility, light vehicles are much more vulnerable than their armored counterparts to a range of weapon systems. Ukrainian FPV drones have already demonstrated their ability to effectively target such light vehicles," the Ministry of Defense of Britain noted.