Russia's risky motorcycle assaults – and Ukrainian lessons

SPOTTED: At the event ‘Innovation Under Fire: How Ukrainian Tech Powers the Freedom during AI’ held by the US-Ukraine Business Council last week in Washington, D.C.

Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S.; Valeria Kushernchuk, DIIA City Executive; Valery Krasovsky, Sigma Software CEO; Elizabeth Whitney Rubel, Paradox PR Chief Strategy Officer; Chris Baker, Softserve Board Member; Amy Lewin, Chief Business Officer, ELEKS Nadiia Khomaziuk, USUBC Executive Director; and Vitaliy Goncharuk, founder of Augmented Pixels.

BLUF:  Russians have stepped up their use of motorbikes in offensive operations, banking on speed and the element of surprise to attack Ukrainian positions. Countering motorbikes is challenging and demands mining, firepower, and barbed wire.

In other news: The company First Contact revealed details about the Osa drones, most likely used by the SBU in ‘Operation Spiderweb’ to strike Russian strategic bombers. MPs have developed a draft law allowing temporary relief from mobilization to protect a newly hired employee from conscription. 

Additionally, the Trypillian startup secured $5 million in investment from former British minister Brooks Newmark. 

THE BIG STORY: Motorcycles are now the norm in the Ukraine war

The Russian military constantly adapts its tactics in ongoing offensives in Ukraine, so it is perhaps not surprising that motorcycles, scooters, and small infantry groups' assaults have become routine on the front lines. 

Over the last year, motorbikes have become a significant element in Russian assaults.

Unlike armored vehicles, a motorcycle is fast and versatile. A bike on the frontline travels at 70-80 km/h, which is comparable to the speed of an FPV drone, said Jack, a company commander in a brigade defending the Pokrovsk front. 

A bike is very maneuverable, making it harder for drones to hit. There's also a lower risk of triggering anti-tank mines while riding a motorbike, given the lower weight. 

As a result, the Russian military is creating separate units for motorcycle assaults.

While the Russians were the first to utilize motorcycles for attacks, the Ukrainian army is now selectively adopting this approach. The 425th Separate Assault Regiment ‘Skala’ recently formed the first motorcycle company for assaults and said it has already conducted at least one offensive operation.

The demand for motorcycles and ATVs has increased among Ukrainian soldiers, Vladyslav Urubkov, the military manager of the Come Back Alive foundation, told Counteroffensive.Pro. 

But these bikes will mainly be used for logistics, he said. Such vehicles can deliver supplies more quickly and reach positions faster.

What makes motorcycle attacks special

The large number of drones used in this war provides a clear view of what’s happening directly on the battlefield, meaning both Russian and Ukrainian mechanized assaults are typically detected well in advance by enemy forces. 

Crossing one to three kilometers in the ‘gray zone’ undetected now is very difficult; many light vehicles can reach the other side's positions faster. The Russian military has sought to exploit that reality to launch ‘Mad Max’-style surprise motorcycle attacks. 

But motorcycles alone aren't the main reason why Russians are making advances on the battlefield, Roman Pohorilyi, co-founder of DeepState, an analytical combat map based on OSINT, told Counteroffensive.Pro. It has more to do with the aggressive, suicidal way such attacks are carried out, with the Russian military using troops as cannon fodder.

"The constant pressure with which they attack is a much more significant factor than simply getting on a bike and riding into an assault," Pohorilyi explained.

During fighting recently in the village of Bahatyr (Donetsk region), Russian forces deployed dozens of motorcycles. According to DeepState, they planned to ride quickly into the village, hide in the houses, and attempt to gather troops for the next assault. 

But they were all eliminated by Ukrainian forces, suffering a catastrophic defeat that illustrates the limits and vulnerabilities of motorcycles on the battlefield. 

Speed and the element of surprise are crucial for such attacks to be effective. 

From the Russian side, this is nothing but swift 'meat assaults,' said Jack, the military officer from the Pokrovsk front, where Russians very often use motorcycles for assaults. 

Still, he said, this may be effective even if only three of ten motorcycles survive and reach the Ukrainian position, since each motorcycle carries two soldiers.

"Even if only five of them survive [and reach Ukrainian positions]. This means five rifles, five grenades. Yes, they will be killed, but they can bombard our positions with grenades," Jack said.

How to counter motorcycle assaults

Defeating Russian assaults requires a comprehensive approach, according to Jack and a second military officer:

• Aerial reconnaissance must detect enemy motorcycles as early as possible;

• Territory must also be blocked with razor wire, which can slow advancing units and make them more vulnerable;

• Anti-personnel mines like the PFM-1 should also be part of a comprehensive approach; 

• Saturating positions with machine guns will allow for dense fire to prevent Russian advances when an enemy motorcycle group is detected.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of Russian advances largely depends on the specific Ukrainian unit holding a particular position. If that unit lacks drones and infantry, motorcycles will have greater success, said the two military service members.

Ukraine adopts the Russian army’s tactic

Skala is now the first Ukrainian unit to create a motorcycle assault company, though they have declined to comment on the matter. 

This move has sparked a major debate: critics among Ukrainian military personnel argue that such units have high casualty rates and might turn into Russian-style 'meat assaults.'

Motorbikes are highly vulnerable in open areas, and if anything happens to them, the soldier will be finished, wrote Stanislav, a Ukrainian officer who vented on social media about the “stupidity” of forming a motorcycle assault unit. 

"Show me a motorcycle assault company that survived more than two assaults (with at least half the personnel remaining in formation) – then I'll admit I was wrong. The Russians operate on the principle of disposable personnel and ‘infinite’ mobilization resources," wrote Bohdan Krotevych, former chief of staff of the Azov Brigade. 

A motorcycle is still a suitable solution for defense, though, since it enables a soldier to maneuver to a position quickly, and has been used since 2014, Krotevych added. 

Motorcycles can also be effective in some other instances, such as quick raids to reach enemy units at night without being detected. This requires night vision equipment, as shown in Skala's video:

BUSINESS LUNCH TOPICS: What our reporting shows!

1. New details on drones (allegedly) used in Op Spiderweb

The founder of a Ukrainian company whose Osa FPV drones are believed to have played a starring role in the Ukrainian Security Service’s (SBU) unprecedented drone attack on Russian airfields last week has spilled more details on the drones to Counteroffensive.Pro.

Valerii Borovyk, the founder of First Contact, neither confirmed nor denied a report by Defense Express that Osa drones were used in Ukraine’s ‘Operation Spiderweb.’ But he revealed more about the drone’s capabilities. 

Currently, Osa utilizes machine learning to detect enemy targets, differentiating between a civilian with a shovel and a military person with an assault rifle, as well as a strategic bomber from a painted one, said Borovyk.

The first version of Osa was presented to Valerii Zaluzhnyi, then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, back in 2022. This drone is not a regular FPV, as it allows reconnaissance or kamikaze operations, said Borovyk. 

A few drone makers had previously claimed that the drones used in 'Spiderweb' were probably equipped with local SIM cards (read our coverage of the operation here). This allowed the drone to be operated live by the operator. SIM cards can be used in Osa drones, Borovyk confirmed.

“Yes, we equipped [a SIM-card] on a drone. I’m joking that it is essentially a mobile device, a cell phone, which is connected to the wings. But we have several communication systems that complement each other,” he said.

During the operation, the open-source software Ardupilot was used to create a pre-planned mission.

2. Legislators' proposal to avoid the mobilization of defense workers

A group of parliamentarians, in collaboration with the Ministry of Strategic Industries, has drafted legislation providing a temporary 45-day deferment for miltech staff who might otherwise be mobilized.

The initiative was created for workers who have not updated their military registration data and may be mobilized, provided they submit all necessary documents to the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRC).

Ukrainian defense workers may be exempt from mobilization if the state recognizes their employer as a critical defense company. To obtain a deferment, however, a person must update all data in TRC and submit a list of documents. Many of them received a summons to the army while still in the process of obtaining their deferment, as stated in the explanatory note of the draft (read our story on mobilization challenges in defense here).

One of the bill's goals is to ‘mobilize’ specialists to defense enterprises. Currently, many specialists are reluctant to work there because they lack up-to-date military documents, Halyna Yanchenko, head of the working group on defense industry investments in the Verkhovna Rada, told Counteroffensive.Pro.

"The process will be similar to regular deferment. The only difference is that the system will automatically approve candidates with issues in their military registration documents. Currently, it's impossible to defer an employee who isn't registered or hasn't updated their information," Yanchenko said.

According to the plan, 45 days should be enough time for a person to register, pass a medical examination, sign up for the Reserve+ application, and complete all necessary paperwork. If all requirements aren't met within this timeframe, the deferment is canceled. Temporary deferment would be granted only once per year. 

The company will handle the submission of required documents to the TRC. A 45-day deferment would also apply for workers who are wanted for violating military registration rules.

The draft law could be considered within the next few months because the issue is pressing. 

3. Former UK minister invests $5 million in Ukrainian deep-strike startup 

Ukrainian-British startup and developer of deep-strike drones Trypillian has raised $5 million from Brooks Newmark, the former British minister for Civil Society and ex-member of Parliament. 

Another co-founder of Trypillian is Ivan Matveichenko, a Ukrainian combat veteran, Newmark told Counteroffensive.Pro. The two explored opportunities for investing in Ukrainian startups, Newmark said, and ultimately, they decided to launch their own company. The majority of the staff are also veterans.

“Ukrainian battlefield innovation, aligned with UK corporate best practice and finance, to deliver a new generation of defense firms. Inside Ukraine, we will work to help Ukraine to victory, we will help keep Europe safe, and we will do so in an affordable way,” said Newmark.

The company develops not only deep-strike drones, but also communication systems and autonomous technologies. By the end of 2025, Trypillian aims to roll out at least three products. 

Ukrainian orders/legislation we’re tracking: 

By: Oksana Zabolotna

Increasing funding for purchases of weapons, military equipment, facilities and equipment – Draft Law No. 13322 dated May 28, 2025

Why it’s important:

Ukraine's need for defense funding remains immense. The proposed 60 billion UAH is a substantial resource that will enable: 

• repairing equipment at the front (reducing losses), 

• procuring new systems (including UAVs and electronic warfare equipment), and 

• developing the defense industry.

Using the profits of state-owned enterprises is a way to fund defense through existing resources.

Proposals:

• Additional expenditures of 60.2 billion UAH to the Ministry of Defense for the development, procurement, modernization, and repair of weapons, military equipment, tools, and devices.

• As an exception in the year of 2025, these expenditures are proposed to be covered by reallocating a portion of the net profit of Ukrainian NPPs operator Energoatom. As proposed, the company must transfer 95 percent of its 2025 year net profit (and not less than 60 billion UAH).

• The Accounting Chamber is instructed to conduct, within three months, an unscheduled audit of Energoatom.

Link to Defense Tech:

Financing defense technologies is a key objective in the proposed allocation of 60 billion UAH: it opens new opportunities for Ukraine’s defense industry, enabling the scaling up of production, investment in research and development, as well as the creation and support of new startups in the field of military technologies. 

Stage: submitted to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budget for review.

Initiator: A group of 14 Members of Parliament from the ‘Batkivshchyna’ faction, led by Yulia Tymoshenko.

What’s next: After the Budget Committee reviews the bill, it may be submitted for consideration in the plenary chamber. However, this is unlikely, as the bill's sponsors are members of the Batkivshchyna faction, which is not part of the parliamentary majority.

ON THE MOVE: Professional movement, promotions and industry news.

Know someone in the defense tech space who has made a professional move? Drop us a line at [email protected]! 

• Nataliia Kushnerska left the position of CEO in Brave1 defense tech cluster and the Ukrainian Startup Fund. She will get a new role in the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

• Andrii Hrytseniuk has become the new CEO of Brave1. Previously, he was the IT director of Sense Bank and developed e-services in the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

• Viktor Rudenko has assumed the role of acting director of the Ukrainian Startup Fund. Previously, he worked in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development.

• Iryna Supruniuk has joined Odd Systems, a drone maker, and TheFourthLaw.AI, an autonomous software developer, as communications and business development director. She is also a co-founder of the Defense Innovation Highway, the platform for speeding up cooperation in defense innovations between Ukraine & Nordic countries.

• Oleksandr Baidala has joined Sine Engineering, a developer of navigation solutions for GPS-denied environments, as business development manager. Previously, he worked at Kvertus, an EW maker.

• Andrii Kozlovskyi started a new job as a community relations specialist at the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry. He also works in a Volunteer optical laboratory, focusing on partnership development.

30 SECOND ELEVATOR PITCH:

Sky Hunter is a software platform for the automated management of combat drones. It provides an instant response to aerial threats, using real-time radar data for UAV guidance and radar coordination. Applications include protection of strategic facilities, large-scale drone swarm management, and countering enemy UAVs (Shahed, Molniya, Zala, Supercam).

"We're creating technology that helps protect the sky in real-time — effectively, autonomously, and with minimal human intervention," said Sergiy Nazarov, CEO of Art Development (Sky Hunter).

The company has opened an investment round of $200,000. The funds will go toward product development, integration with various UAV types, and testing under combat conditions.

MUST READS:

• The Ukrainian armored vehicle producer ‘UkrArmoTech’ has completed a codification process with the Ministry of Defense for the new armored vehicle Gyurza-02. 

• The UK will increase its drone supply to Ukraine from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025. 

• The Canadian armored vehicle maker Roshel established a production line in Ukraine. It has already been working for two months, said Roman Shimonov, CEO of the company.

• French company Renault will produce drones in Ukraine. The firm plans to partner with small and medium-sized French defense companies, according to France Info. Renault claims there is not yet a final decision about starting manufacturing.

• Ukraine’s Military Intelligence has analyzed components of the new Russian V2U kamikaze drone. It features AI software, and the vast majority of its components are sourced from China. For instance, a motor was manufactured by Shanghai Dualsky, and two other parts by Intel and Sony.

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