The Russian military in Ukraine is using donkeys and horses to transport ammunition due to a severe shortage of vehicles, war correspondents have claimed.

The development follows previous confirmed reports of Russian troops resorting to civilian cars and electric scooters for logistical support.

The first reports of Russian soldiers using donkeys came from Russian military blogger Kirill Fedorov on his War History Weapons Telegram channel, where he stated that the Russian Defence Ministry had provided pack animals for frontline supply operations. Fedorov cited an official ministry transport list that includes horses, camels and deer.

“The fighters were given a donkey to deliver ammunition to the front line. What did you expect? Cars are in short supply these day,” he wrote.

Fedorov’s post came on the same day that Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko published a video on social media showing Russian soldiers riding horses. Gerashchenko used the footage to criticise Moscow for “rolling back to the times of the Russian Empire.”

However, not everyone is convinced. A military expert interviewed by Novaya Gazeta Europe suggested that this is likely a local initiative rather than a widespread strategy. He explained that soldiers may be using abandoned animals from nearby settlements, as donkeys and horses can navigate difficult terrain where vehicles struggle.

“A donkey or a horse will be able to overcome the impassable roads in muddy conditions and deliver, for example, food or ammunition to a stronghold located in a forest plantation far from the roads,” he said.

The use of animals comes just months after the Russian command banned the use of privately owned and humanitarian vehicles. This policy, reportedly introduced to curb accidents involving drunk drivers, has disrupted logistics and battlefield operations across the region. The decision to confiscate civilian vehicles has created a severe logistical crisis, as more than 90% of light vehicles at the front are privately owned or donated. With these vehicles unavailable, some soldiers have resorted to bicycles to move ammunition, while others hide vehicles from commanders to avoid penalties.