The raid relies on a combination of surprise and violence. Ukrainian forces routinely conduct mounted raids against Russian defenses. Many of these raids by the enemy are successful.

Wagner forces, on the other hand, are known to conduct mounted raids in Syria and central Africa. Whether it is former Wagner soldiers who have been assimilated into the regular army, or junior leaders who have witnessed the success of enemy raids and then take obstinate initiative, Russian forces are conducting mounted raids in Ukraine – with or without permission from their senior commanders.

A. Mounted Raid Task Organization

This form of raid appears to be hastily task organized to missions for an immediate tactical need, playing the role of an organic quick reaction force. The mounted raid includes two sections, the raid dismount party and the raid vehicle team.

Raid Dismount Party
The Russian commander decides the number of soldiers necessary to achieve actions on the objective – clearing an enemy strongpoint, seizing key terrain, rescuing trapped comrades. In any case, the objective of the raid is not to remain, but to achieve a specified outcome and then leave.

In most cases, a platoon is used in the mounted raid. It can be more or less, but in observation the raid dismount party has been roughly a platoon that is task organized to the mission.

Raid Vehicle Team
In addition to the requirement to transport the raid dismount party, the vehicle team might include even more vehicles if the mission is to extract trapped or wounded comrades. BMP, BTR, or even MTLB are most often used for the purpose of transporting soldiers.

Typically five or more armored personnel carriers are supported by two or three tanks positioned at the head and rear of the attack column. If mines are an immediate hazard, an armored engineer vehicle may lead the column, followed by a tank.

B. Conduct of the Mounted Raid

Observations of Russian mounted raids indicate they are short-range bursts of tactical action that are intensely focused on a singular outcome – most commonly to destroy an identified enemy asset or position, or rescue comrades trapped in a pocket forward of the frontline.

1. Identify Resources
Task organize available soldiers and armored vehicles into a raid force.

2. Orient the Raid Force
In the vast majority of cases, the compression of time does not allow for a full mission order or an opportunity to rehearse. Instead, once task organized, the commander directs the raid force toward a specific, short-range objective with a quick explanation of the raid’s purpose. It is likely the soldiers already understand the dire situation and may have volunteered for the mission.

3. Initiate Movement
The raid force mounts onto armored vehicles and advances rapidly. Observations of Russian units conducting mounted raids do not include preparatory artillery fires or smoke screens. Such raids do not appear to be conducted unilaterally with limited preparation – often catching the enemy off guard and with no opportunity to effect a response.

4. Occupy the Objective
Supporting fires come from the raid force. Seldom do sub-units stop to provide overwatch. Instead, the entire raid force drives up to, or onto the objective. The raid dismount party disembarks the armored vehicles and immediately secures the objective.

Armored personnel carriers will remain on the objective if rescue is the purpose, and tanks will immediately withdraw and move to overwatch position. If rescue is not the purpose, generally all of the raid vehicle team moves off the objective to assume overwatch positions and provide fire support to suppress and disrupt enemy responses.

5. Actions on the Objective
The raid dismount party works quickly and violently to:
• Destroy specified enemy assets – weapons, vehicles, or C2ISR equipment
• Destroy specified enemy positions – bunker, obstacle, or observation tower
• Rescue wounded, stranded comrades

6. Exfiltrate Back to Frontline
Upon successful completion of actions on the objective, the commander of the raid dismount party recalls the armored vehicles to the objective. The raid dismount party loads wounded comrades, prisoners, or enemy equipment onto the armored vehicles, then mounts quickly.

Supporting tanks may also return to the objective, but in most cases tank support continues to provide direct fire suppression of the enemy from their overwatch position. The raid vehicle team makes a hasty escape back to Russian frontlines.

This article, by Dr. Christopher E. Larsen, was written in support of “OPFOR SMARTbook 3-3: Russian Military (Forces, Operations & Tactics)” by The Lightning Press. See pp. 6-28 to 6-30 for associated content in OPFOR 3-3, as related to the Russian offensive operations (chap. 6). Download a free PDF sample and learn more at: OPFOR SMARTbook 3-3 – Russian Military, 3rd Ed.

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