16:44 11-11-2025

Russian Troops Adopt “Makhno-Style” Tactics in Pokrovsk

Military expert Vasily Dandykin says Russian troops in Pokrovsk now use motorcycles and light vehicles instead of armor, recalling tactics of Nestor Makhno.

Russian troops have begun employing a new tactical approach during urban assaults in the special military operation zone — one that military expert Vasily Dandykin compared to the methods of the famed anarchist Nestor Makhno from the Russian Civil War.

The comment came after footage appeared online showing Russian units entering Pokrovsk on motorcycles, civilian cars, and UAZ-452 vans.

According to Dandykin, the Russian army has largely abandoned the use of armored vehicles because of the persistent threat posed by enemy drones. Instead of traditional armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and combat transporters, assault units are now relying on lighter, more agile transport such as motorcycles, quad bikes, and standard cars.

The analyst noted that these highly mobile assault groups reflect a return to fast, adaptive warfare — reminiscent, he said, of Makhno’s cavalry units that once fought in the same region on machine-gun carts.

Dandykin added that Ukrainian forces have also moved away from using heavy equipment. He emphasized that the Ukrainian army has effectively stopped deploying the expensive German-made Leopard 2 tanks, as they offer little advantage in the realities of the current conflict.