Images recently surfaced on social media appear to show Russian soldiers using horses equipped with communication devices and video cameras for real-time transmissions from the battlefield. The authenticity and exact context of the materials could not be independently verified.
A video clip shared on platform X by an account known under the pseudonym “Special Kherson Cat” – active in the OSINT community and claiming to originate from southern Ukraine – shows a horse whose saddle is mounted with a metal structure supporting a communications terminal and a video camera. In the recording, a soldier explains how the equipment works, stating that the images are transmitted while moving.
What is not clear from the images
The video material does not allow to determine:
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the exact date and location of the filming;
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the affiliation of the military unit;
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whether the equipment used is functional or just demonstrative;
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whether the communication device is indeed a Starlink terminal or similar equipment.
The use of the Starlink satellite internet service by Russian forces has not been officially confirmed, and SpaceX has previously stated that its services are not provided to the Russian military. In the absence of additional evidence, the exact identification of the equipment remains uncertain.
Context: the use of animals on the front
The emergence of the images fits into a broader context of reports on the use of animals by the Russian army in the war in Ukraine, especially for logistical transport in areas where mechanized vehicles are difficult to use.
In February 2025, Forbes reported that some Russian units had resorted to using horses due to significant vehicle losses. However, the analysts quoted warned that this “demechanization” could make the troops more vulnerable to drone and artillery attacks.
Previously, Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov claimed that the Russian army had also used donkeys for transport, a statement indirectly confirmed by a Russian MP, reserve Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolev, who stated that the use of animals for logistical purposes is “normal” under certain conditions.
Between improvisation, propaganda, and reality
The recent images of horses equipped with modern technology may represent:
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an isolated experiment;
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a logistical improvisation;
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a piece of propaganda material intended for the online environment;
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or a combination of these elements.
