Russian officials have defended deploying donkeys to their armed forces, insisting that they are standard practice for military logistics.
Reports of Russian troops using donkeys quickly went viral after a video of a soldier complaining that they had been supplied by the Russian Defense Ministry’s logistics units as substitutes for vehicles, which were in short supply, appeared on social media.
On February 5, the Russian Telegram channel Mayorsky KortiZol shared a video featuring a Russian soldier who said:
“They gave us a donkey. It’s parked in the support platoon. They said, ‘We have sh*t for transport, right? Here’s a donkey. Use it to transport ammunition to the front lines.’”
The video’s producer highlighted that the donkey was not supplied by volunteer humanitarian aid but was officially issued by the Ministry of Defense.
“They’re bringing us donkeys—real ones! Four of them. I don’t know how they’ll divide them. They’re using donkeys to transport ammo. The order is to build a corral for them. 21st century—we’re going to war on donkeys.”
On February 5, the Russian Telegram channel Mayorsky KortiZol shared a video featuring a Russian soldier who said:
“They gave us a donkey. It’s parked in the support platoon. They said, ‘We have sh*t for transport, right? Here’s a donkey. Use it to transport ammunition to the front lines.’”
The video’s producer highlighted that the donkey was not supplied by volunteer humanitarian aid but was officially issued by the Ministry of Defense.
Another Russian serviceman reported that his unit had received four donkeys:In the last couple of days, there have been numerous videos appearing of Russian soldiers who have donkeys at their disposal. According to Russian sources, they have begun to be given to some units as pack animals.
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“They’re bringing us donkeys—real ones! Four of them. I don’t know how they’ll divide them. They’re using donkeys to transport ammo. The order is to build a corral for them. 21st century—we’re going to war on donkeys.”
Now a member of the Russian State Duma’s Defense Committee and Communist Party deputy, retired Lt. Gen. Viktor Sobolev has said there are major logistical difficulties in supplying Russian forces with ammunition, technical equipment and food.
“If methods such as donkeys, horses and other animals are used to deliver ammunition and supplies to the front line, that is normal,” the Kyiv Post cited Sobolev as saying.
Referencing their use in World War II, he added that much of the artillery at the time relied on horse-drawn transport.
“Dogs were also used in that war.
“They were loaded with explosives and sent to areas where they were needed,” he said.
Sobolev was referencing so-called anti-tank suicide dogs, which were specially trained to target enemy armored vehicles, Ukrainian website Defense Express explained.
The Belarusian weekly, Nasha Niva, reported that the Russian Defense Ministry equipment list includes donkeys, which are officially classified as transport options. The list, approved in 1999, also includes horses, camels and reindeer.
“If methods such as donkeys, horses and other animals are used to deliver ammunition and supplies to the front line, that is normal,” the Kyiv Post cited Sobolev as saying.
Referencing their use in World War II, he added that much of the artillery at the time relied on horse-drawn transport.
“Dogs were also used in that war.
“They were loaded with explosives and sent to areas where they were needed,” he said.
Sobolev was referencing so-called anti-tank suicide dogs, which were specially trained to target enemy armored vehicles, Ukrainian website Defense Express explained.
The Belarusian weekly, Nasha Niva, reported that the Russian Defense Ministry equipment list includes donkeys, which are officially classified as transport options. The list, approved in 1999, also includes horses, camels and reindeer.
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