In the polar regions, the Russian army abandoned tanks and armored vehicles and turned to reindeer and sled dogs of the indigenous Inuit people.
 |
| In mid-January 2017, the 80th Motor Rifle Brigade of the Russian Northern Fleet held exercises at a reindeer farm in the Levozero settlement in the Murmansk region. |
 |
| The first Russian brigade operating in the Arctic Circle was formed within the Northern Fleet in 2015. It is based in the Murmansk region, some 1,850 km north of Moscow. The Russian military plans to create such a brigade in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region in Siberia. |
 |
| In a region where temperatures can drop to -50 degrees Celsius, the Russian army found it more convenient to use traditional northern “means” of transportation such as reindeer and husky sled dogs. |
 |
| During World War II, dog and reindeer sleds were also used by Russia to evacuate the wounded, transport goods, and even infiltrate for reconnaissance. |
 |
| One of the most successful campaigns using reindeer and sled dogs was the Battle of Petsamo, in which Russian troops stormed a Nazi airfield outside Alakurtti, west of Murmansk in 1942. |
 |
| Dog sleds easily climbed hills, transported wounded people, weapons and ammunition. |
 |
| Huskies are famous for their high hunting instinct. In the wild, they often hunt mice and small birds. |
 |
| These dogs are “enlisted” from a young age and are thoroughly trained by the Russian army. At about 4 months old, the potential dogs begin to cooperate with older dogs to learn. |
 |
| The dogs themselves have a military-like hierarchy, with two leaders responsible for keeping the pace for the entire pack. |
 |
| When a coachman was injured, trained dogs would carry him to the nearest populated area. If no suitable rest stop was found, they would surround him to form a wall to keep him warm. |
According to VOV
