Anna Hartz
Russian Army’s ‘Secret Weapon’? A Donkey With Electronics
Warfare in the 21st century is high-tech, fast-moving, and digital. Drones, satellites, and artificial intelligence are all part of today’s battlefields.
But sometimes, the strangest weapons make an appearance.
The latest example comes from the front lines of Ukraine, where a donkey has become an unexpected symbol of Russia’s military challenges, according to Ziare.
Russia claims to have the second largest army in the world. They also say they lead in nuclear firepower.
On paper, that may be true. But after more than three years of fighting in Ukraine, cracks are showing.
Many Russian soldiers are poorly equipped. Supplies are inconsistent. And some of the technology is outdated or improvised.
One of the latest images circulating online shows a donkey wearing a helmet. On its back, it carries electronic equipment meant to block Ukrainian drones.
The animal was found in a Russian-held area and appears to be part of a new tactic to fight off drone attacks.
Ukrainian OSINT (open-source intelligence) watchers spotted the photo on Russian Telegram channels. It quickly went viral.
It’s not clear how well this setup actually works. The equipment on the donkey is likely meant to interfere with radio signals or GPS, which drones rely on.
But experts are skeptical. Using animals in combat is not new. In fact, both Germany and the Soviet Union used millions of horses during World War II to transport supplies.
Donkeys and horses were common on the battlefield before the age of trucks and tanks.
This is not the first time animals have shown up in the current war. Russian troops have also been seen using horses to carry heavy loads.
The donkey, however, stands out. It shows just how desperate and improvisational some parts of the Russian military effort have become.
Whether it’s effective or not, one thing is certain. The anti-drone donkey has caught the attention of the world.
And it’s raising serious questions about how far behind Russia may be when it comes to modern warfare.