The scooter, the new weapon of Russian soldiers in Ukraine

Some information might seem humorous if taken out of the tragic context of the war in Ukraine.

In a video released by the ultra-media brigade AZOV of the Ukrainian army, three Russian soldiers are seen speeding down a cratered road on electric scooters, while others cross muddy fields on quads. These images, filmed near Toretsk in eastern Ukraine, illustrate a new strategy based on rapid and independent mobility, a crucial advantage on a battlefield where lines are fragmented and air strikes are omnipresent. Electric scooters, like motorcycles and quads, allow Russian soldiers to disperse quickly, reduce their vulnerability to targeted strikes, and maintain an element of surprise.

This tactic roughly resembles, to some extent, the use of Parisian taxis during the Battle of the Marne in 1914, when rapid and decentralized mobility played a decisive role in transporting troops to the front and countering the German advance. However, unlike the taxis of the Marne, which were primarily used for logistical transport, the Russian electric scooters are used directly for tactical mobility on the battlefield. Their low cost, ability to traverse difficult terrain, and discreet sound make them a formidable strategic tool in combat situations where adaptability is key.

For the Ukrainian army, these new tactics pose a major risk. As cute as an electric scooter might be, it doesn’t mask the danger that comes with steering it! Stabilizing already fragile lines against dispersed and mobile attacks requires increased responsiveness, but above all, innovations capable of countering this rapid mobility, which reminds us that, in modern warfare as in 1914, good mobility, regardless of the size of the vehicle, remains a decisive asset.

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