Russian army's bizarre tactics: Cyclists lead armored advances
The war in Ukraine is filled with the strangest events that would have been considered science fiction just a few years ago. One such case involves a Russian cyclist paving the way for a BMP-1/2 infantry fighting vehicle.
1:01 PM EST, December 4, 2024
Below, you can see a recording of shocked Russians in the command post, watching one of the attacks via drone. They are surprised that at the frontline is a cyclist, followed by the BMP-1/2 infantry fighting vehicle.
It's hard to say how this situation came about, but considering the current level of discipline in the Russian military, which includes punishing rebelling soldiers by starving them in pits for days or even executing them for disobedience, this situation may be plausible. For instance, there might have been no room left in the BMP-1/2 for all the soldiers of the assault group, and one soldier might have been forced to ride a bicycle.
The Russian army after nearly three years of war — "human wave attacks," civilian vehicles, and huge shortages
After nearly three years, the Russian army has almost degraded to the level of warlords in Third World countries. Currently, the main tactic of the Russians involves sending masses of infantry to enemy positions (commonly referred to as "human wave attacks") and bombarding Ukrainian defensive points with artillery or guided FAB bombs with UMPK modules dropped by aircraft.
Only after this preparatory work are mechanized and armored units sent in. This tactic has proven effective, but mainly due to inadequate help from the West and manpower shortages on the Ukrainian side. Except for some units, they have trouble replenishing their losses with new soldiers.
The Russians lack armored equipment because deep storage warehouses, or rather strategic junkyards of Soviet-era equipment, have already been practically cleaned out, and by 2025, the Russian industry will not have enough resources for refurbishment. It's already evident that in the case of artillery, Russia is sourcing equipment from North Korea because local reserves are simply lacking.
Meanwhile, the Russians are patching up the shortages in armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles by using old tanks encased in scrap metal, with space for a landing party just behind the turret. Another option is using buggies or motorcycles from the Chinese market.
Moreover, the entire logistics behind the front lines, after huge truck losses, is being managed much like the Ukrainians, using civilian vehicles often funded through donations. The UAZ-452 Buchanka minibusses are particularly appreciated for their decent off-road capabilities and good loading capacity.
