Ukrainian drones destroyed nearly a dozen Russian assault troops on motorcycles during an attempted attack in the Kupyansk sector(Kharkiv region), the State Border Guard Service reported. Accompanying the post on Telegram was a video labeled: “Drones of the ‘Vengeance’ [Pomsta] unit take out the enemy on the move.” According to the report, Russian forces attempted to storm Ukrainian positions, but Ukrainian drone strikes destroyed 10 motorcycles, two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and eliminated eight Russian soldiers. The Border Guard also said Russian troops are testing new battlefield tactics in the Donetsk region, including motorcycle columns and ground drones. “Caught in the sights of the Phoenix UAV operators: two enemy robotic platforms, a tank, a shelter, and an entire group of motorcyclists. All burned,” the report states. The videos show Russian troops and equipment being hit by kamikaze drones and munitions dropped from UAVs. Kyiv Post was unable to independently verify the time and location of the videos. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian forces are increasingly using motorcycles in combat, with troops from the 98th Airborne Division seen practicing offensive and defensive tactics on them. While Western observers have mocked the approach as “Mad Max-style,” Russia troops have been attempting to use motorcycles and ATVs to help troops evade Ukraine’s deadly first-person-view (FPV) drone strikes – despite the noise of the engines making drone detection harder. Ukraine now appears to see value in the tactic too. According to Defense Blog, Maj. Gen. Vladyslav Klochkov said motorcycles are proving essential for infantry: “Motorized vehicles, although not armored, are indispensable in the work of the infantry. They allow them to quickly get to their positions, deliver necessary equipment, or evacuate the wounded.” With drones dominating modern warfare, mobility has become critical. Traditional roads near the front are increasingly dangerous, and motorcycles offer flexible, off-road options for logistics, defense, and medevac. Both sides may rely more heavily on these light vehicles as the war intensifies this spring and summer, each testing different strategies in adapting to a drone-filled battlefield. H2 Motorcycle-use in recent battles In April, Russian forces ramped up assaults in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, deploying large infantry groups backed by armored vehicles, buggies, and motorcycles – a growing battlefield tactic. One of the fiercest battles occurred on April 17 near Pokrovsk (Donetsk region), where Ukraine’s 14th National Guard Brigade “Chervona Kalyna” repelled a major Russian mechanized assault. According to Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko, around 200 Russian troops were killed and 96 motorcycles, 21 armored vehicles, and artillery were destroyed. “This battle is a testament to our defenders’ professionalism and coordination,” Pivnenko said, sharing videos of the battle. Mykola Koval, head of communications for the 14th Brigade, called it one of the largest attacks in the sector. Junior Sergeant Stanislav Bunyatov said that the use of “two-wheeled disposable stormtroopers” creates confusion, reduces drone effectiveness, and complicates artillery targeting. He praised the fighters, saying it is many times more difficult to repel this kind of assault compared to traditional attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the scale of the attack and praised Ukrainian forces for holding the line. Overall, 115 Russian vehicles and 200 troops were eliminated, with another 30 wounded. In the Zaporizhzhia region on April 16, Ukrainian troops stopped another large-scale Russian assault involving 320 personnel, 40 armored vehicles, and three tanks. Early drone detection enabled strikes that ended the attack after 2.5 hours. Separately, the Presidential Brigade’s 3rd Mechanized Battalion released footage of a Russian assault destroyed on April 14. FPV drones and artillery wiped out around 20 motorcycles and over 20 armored vehicles, with up to 200 Russian troops killed.