Kathrine Frich
From horses and donkeys to trained dolphins, Russia’s military has a long history of turning to animals in times of war.
As its invasion of Ukraine drags into a fourth year, such tactics have reappeared on the modern battlefield.
Reports from the front describe the use of pack animals to replace damaged vehicles and even marine mammals trained for naval defence.
Now, one extraordinary incident has drawn global attention to just how far Moscow’s forces are being stretched.
A strange rescue
Ukrainian troops recently encountered a camel that Russian units had been using in frontline operations.
Footage shared on social media shows the animal trotting behind a white military truck filled with soldiers in eastern Ukraine.
According to reports, the camel was found wandering after Ukrainian forces captured a Russian position.
The seven-foot Bactrian camel, weighing about a tonne, was taken in by Ukrainian troops.
In the video, it can be seen passing a damaged armoured vehicle and debris from recent fighting, an image that quickly became symbolic of the war’s absurd contrasts.
Animals in the war effort
Earlier this year, another camel was photographed carrying a Russian soldier, adding to a growing list of animals used in the conflict.
Donkeys and horses have also been pressed into service to carry ammunition and supplies through rough terrain where transport vehicles are scarce.
Bactrian camels, native to Central Asia and southern Russia, are prized for their strength and ability to endure harsh conditions.
Russian officials have defended their use, arguing that animals can safely deliver equipment in areas too dangerous for convoys.
Viktor Sobolev, a member of Russia’s Duma defence committee, said it was “normal” to use such methods, claiming it was better for a pack animal to be lost than for soldiers to die while transporting essential goods.
Symbols of a struggling campaign
The camel rescue follows reports of Russia’s improvised and sometimes eccentric battlefield measures.
Troops have deployed “turtle tanks”, ageing Soviet-era vehicles welded with sheets of metal, to protect against drone attacks.
Other makeshift designs, including one covered in hair-like bristles, have become online symbols of a military effort struggling to adapt.
Despite these tactics, Moscow continues its assault on Ukraine amid mounting logistical challenges.
For many observers, the sight of a rescued camel, nicknamed “Putin’s war camel” on social media, captures both the desperation and the surrealism of a war that shows no sign of ending.
Sources: United 24, The Sun, Reuters, BBC, AFP
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
