Russian road blunders in Kursk: Deadly nightly collisions inflate toll
At the start of the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, the Russian forces acted in a highly disorganized manner. As a result, some decisions are now reportedly leading to up to 40 deaths per day.
Initially, in addition to forming military units from all available resources in the area, the Russians fortified roads up to 25 miles from the battle lines.
It has since emerged that these hastily constructed fortifications are poorly mapped and inadequately marked. This issue, combined with the fast-paced night driving without lights, is leading to numerous fatal accidents. Russian channels on Telegram are reporting up to 40 soldier deaths per day.
Night vehicle raids near the front line — the only chance for survival
Notably, the Russians utilize civilian vehicles for logistical purposes in the rear, focusing specifically on UAZ-452 Buchanka minibusses. These vehicles offer decent off-road capabilities and payload capacity, but as civilian models, they are highly vulnerable to attack.
As a result, Russian or Ukrainian drivers typically try to complete their assigned routes as quickly as possible, often driving without lights to reduce the chance of being detected. Some Buchankas are capable of reaching speeds up to 93 mph. However, this speed often isn't sufficient to evade an FPV drone, and colliding with a concrete barrier at such a speed can be deadly.
Dragon's teeth — a simple anti-vehicle barrier
Dragon's teeth are concrete or reinforced concrete structures designed to stop or slow down enemy vehicles on roads. They are effective against standard 4x4 vehicles or wheeled transporters. However, a tracked vehicle, like a fast-moving tank weighing several tons, can overrun them unless the barrier is buried in the ground, which is not typically the case when placed on the road.
If dragon's teeth are used to block only part of a road, they might, at best, stop civilian vehicles, but not all of them. Off-road vehicles can often bypass them if there are no anti-tank mines present. In such cases, the only remaining option might be to destroy the obstacle with explosives.
