According to a report by Defense Blog on September 30, the Russian military is reviving the cavalry.

The report states that these cavalry units appeared in live-fire training exercises between the 9th Motorized Infantry Brigade and the Storm突击分队, rather than being part of ceremonial or performance units.

This concept was proposed by the commander of the Storm突击分队, with the fundamental aim of addressing the prevalence of magnetic mines and severely damaged road conditions on the battlefield.

In the current front-line environment, large areas are no longer accessible by motor vehicles, and even minor movements of armored vehicles could result in destruction by mines.

Rather than risking the paralysis of entire armored units, it is better to revert to horses.

Horses, due to their instinct, are more sensitive and have an innate ability to avoid certain types of mines, especially when they are not shod.

Additionally, horses can move at night, recognize terrain, and overcome obstacles, giving them a certain tactical advantage in mobility.

More importantly, horses are immune to electronic warfare. In today's battlefield, where all electronic equipment may expose positions, horses become stealthy vehicles.

Image from U.S. media

So the question arises: what role can cavalry play in modern warfare?

Firstly, horses possess basic high mobility, which is particularly evident in terrains where vehicles cannot pass and walking is too slow.

In the Donbas region, where there are dense minefields, destroyed roads, and armored targets easily detectable and attacked, horses become one of the few platforms capable of free movement. They can not only carry soldiers quickly through the battlefield but also transport supplies and wounded personnel, and even facilitate withdrawal after completing missions.

Secondly, horses are naturally immune to electromagnetic interference. They do not require GPS, do not emit signals, and thus are not targets for enemy drones or electronic jamming systems.

Thirdly, horses move silently. In complex terrains such as forests and hills, they are less likely to be detected compared to mechanical platforms, making them ideal for tasks like nighttime reconnaissance, rear-area raids, and small-unit ambushes.

The Russian military's formation is two people per horse, with one controlling the horse and the other holding a weapon, allowing both the horse's mobility and immediate fire support.

However, the disadvantages are undeniable. Horses, like humans, are soft targets, transitioning from "iron wrapped in meat" to "meat wrapped in meat," lacking any protective capabilities. Once exposed to artillery fire or drone attacks, they are almost defenseless.

Moreover, their carrying capacity is limited, making it impossible to carry heavy weapons or supplies for extended periods.

The most critical issue is that horses are animals, prone to fear and instability. If they get scared or injured on the battlefield, the entire unit's combat effectiveness could collapse instantly.

Therefore, cavalry is not a universal force but a special unit designed for specific scenarios where modern systems cannot cover or technological means fail.

Image from U.S. media

This two-person, one-horse configuration has a long and extensive history of use in military history.

As early as the era of cold weapons, Central Asian nomadic peoples such as the Xiongnu, Turks, and Mongols widely adopted the two-person riding tactic, with one controlling the horse and the other drawing a bow to shoot, offering advantages of high mobility and striking capability.

This tactic also appeared among Persian, Indian, and Eastern European nomadic tribes, becoming typical mounted combat units.

Entering the era of firearms, cavalry still maintained the two-person structure.

For example, the Confederate light cavalry during the American Civil War often used two-person horseback squads for raids behind enemy lines, with one controlling the horse and the other firing a matchlock or flintlock rifle, and then quickly withdrawing after the attack.

By the 20th century, this tactic remained resilient. The Soviet Red Army had established cavalry armies during World War II, which frequently used two-person riding tactics for infiltration, maneuver, and encirclement operations on the Eastern Front.

Even in recent years, groups such as the Taliban and Syrian rebels have used this tactical model in mountainous, forested, or mined environments, especially under conditions where drones dominate the battlefield and anti-armor mines are prevalent.

These examples show that the two-person riding tactic is not outdated; it has always existed in warfare.

Modern and retro blend

This highlights the greatest characteristic of the Russia-Ukraine war: both advanced and retro.

On the same battlefield, we can see futuristic images of drone swarms conducting suicide attacks, as well as echoes of old-world scenes of soldiers using shovels in trenches and cavalry charging in formations.

This war simultaneously features space satellite links and infantry messengers, as well as AI-assisted fire control systems and paper maps.

All the achievements of modern information warfare are used side by side with 19th-century weapon systems.

Sometimes it feels like it's getting more advanced, and indeed, it is modern warfare, unlike World War II, but sometimes it seems that there's essentially no difference, and even ancient combat methods can still be applied, appearing paradoxical yet unobtrusive.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7556225645718667802/

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