It’s Cossack to the future for the beleaguered Russian army. The Kremlin is using horses and donkeys to transport troops and supplies on the battlefield in Ukraine — as part of an attempt to apply 15th century tactics in 21st century warfare.

In an unexpected turn of military strategy, Russian troops are increasingly using horses and donkeys to carry out operations near the Ukrainian front lines. The unconventional tactic seeks to evade detection by Ukrainian drones, which can easily identify and hit armored vehicles.

The high-tech war in Ukraine has led to a low-tech twist. To combat drones, the Russian military is deploying a centuries-old battlefield mainstay.