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Ukraine Destroys Russian Cavalry Unit in First Battlefield Use Since WWII
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian forces have reportedly deployed cavalry units in assault operations against Ukrainian positions, reviving a tactic long considered obsolete.
According to Defence Blog on October 4, Ukrainian troops confirmed that one such unit was engaged and destroyed by a precision drone strike during a recent offensive.
Footage released by Ukrainian forces shows a Russian cavalry detachment attempting to storm defensive positions. The mounted troops later dismounted and tried to use their horses as cover, a move that proved ineffective under aerial surveillance.
A Ukrainian operator from the 132nd Battalion strikes a Russian cavalryman who clings to his horse in fear.https://t.co/TnUu97xLRA pic.twitter.com/xSigfttOFF
— Yigal Levin (@YigalLevin) October 4, 2025
“The horses, of course, are a pity… But, no matter how you look at it, it’s a combat unit. Sad — yes. But the work is being done — to reduce human casualties,” Ukrainian servicemen said after the strike, according to Defence Blog.
Analysts cited by the outlet suggest that Moscow’s use of cavalry units reflects a combination of tactical improvisation and desperation.
Mounted troops may have been deployed to navigate difficult terrain or to avoid detection by conventional reconnaissance systems, but the tactic also underscores the ethical concerns surrounding the use of animals in warfare.
As Defence Blog notes, Russia has a record of employing animals for military purposes. The Russian Navy maintains trained belugas and dolphins used for sabotage missions, while dogs have been fitted with explosives to target armored vehicles.
Ukrainian officials argue that the deployment of horses in active combat continues this pattern and demonstrates disregard for humanitarian norms and the laws of armed conflict.
Earlier, The Moscow Times reported on September 30 that Russian forces in the occupied Donetsk region began training horse-mounted assault teams under a commander known by the callsign “Khan.”
The initiative, described by pro-Kremlin blogger Semyon Pegov, aims to create two-person cavalry units capable of operating in rough terrain and avoiding detection. The move marks Russia’s first revival of cavalry tactics since such formations were disbanded in 1955.
