Amid the chaos of Ukraine’s battlefield, a pink motorcycle has come to symbolize the Russian military’s growing reliance on makeshift and vulnerable vehicles, Forbes reports.

This highlights a broader shift in Russian military tactics, where civilians’ everyday vehicles are now the preferred mode of transport for frontline troops.

In a video shared by the Estonian analyst WarTranslated, a Russian soldier proudly shows off his bike, calling it a “warhorse” used for reconnaissance missions.

"We have nothing left to ride." – on such "warhorses," according to Putin, the Russian army plans to "finish off" the AFU. pic.twitter.com/4oSoZNXAZM

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) April 1, 2025

“We ride out to the task on it,” the soldier says, pointing to its crude sidecar, which carries spare gas and smoke grenades. “Just in case,” he adds, acknowledging the constant threat from Ukrainian drones.

This pink motorcycle, an ex-Ukrainian vehicle captured or stolen by Russian forces, is used to transport drone operators on reconnaissance missions near the front line. The operators likely launch short-range drones to gather intelligence or target Ukrainian positions. But what stands out is how far the Russian military has fallen, forced to rely on such makeshift vehicles after the loss of heavy combat equipment.

David Axe, Forbes war correspondent, reveals that Russia has lost over 20,000 armored vehicles and other heavy military equipment in Ukraine, a staggering number that highlights the challenges the Russian military is now facing. With so many vehicles destroyed or rendered useless, Russian forces have turned to civilian-style vehicles, which are highly vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes.

Russia’s “de-mechanization”

One notable instance of this vulnerability occurred during a failed assault on Ukrainian lines, where 31 Russian motorcycles were deployed. Few of them survived, as Ukrainian artillery and drones decimated the makeshift vehicles. This is just one example of how the “de-mechanization” of the Russian military has significantly slowed their advances on critical battlefields in eastern Ukraine.

“There’s nothing else for us to ride,” a soldier admits, acknowledging the extreme measures Russian forces are resorting to as they continue to fight with inadequate resources. Initially, Russian troops had experimented with adding armor to their motorcycles, but the added weight reduced mobility and effectiveness.

“The high mass of the vehicle made steering difficult,” notes Tanks Encyclopedia.

Today, armored motorcycles are rare, and most Russian forces rely on unarmored bikes that offer little protection against Ukrainian firepower.

As Axe observes, the advantage that Russia once held regarding manpower and firepower is now slipping away. “They are rolling into battle in the same vehicles civilians use to go to work,” he writes, highlighting the immense struggle the Russian military faces as they try to adapt to the evolving nature of modern warfare.

Read more:

• Forbes: Ukraine resurrects Soviet ballistic missiles that physics left for dead
• Russia strikes Kharkiv, injures eight people, including three children
• Frontline report: Dead Russian soldiers pile up in forests near Sumy as their offensive collapses