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[INTERNATIONAL] · Ukraine · 18 sources

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Part of situation: Ukraine medical and military drone applications (3 clusters)

Kostiantyn Vlasenko rescued from frontline by heavy-lift drone

Kostiantyn Vlasenko Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 Gurzuf Defence drone evacuation Ukraine-Russia war

Kostiantyn Vlasenko, a 49-year-old soldier with Ukraine’s 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade, has been rescued from the frontline near Kup’yansk in the Kharkiv region using a heavy-lift hexacopter drone. The operation, described as a world first, utilized a Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 hexacopter produced by Gurzuf Defence to airlift Vlasenko after ground evacuation became impossible due to dense minefields and constant Russian drone presence.

Vlasenko had been stranded in a combat zone for approximately 491 days. After a Russian drone strike on February 16 killed his comrade, Baski, and severely wounded him, Vlasenko sought refuge in a cast-iron furnace within a ruined school. During his isolation, he survived on food, water, and medical supplies dropped by Ukrainian drones, including a Stephen King novel sent by his wife.

The prolonged exposure and injuries took a severe toll; Vlasenko lost his left foot to frostbite-induced necrosis and was forced to perform a self-amputation of his right lower leg with a knife to survive. Following a meticulously planned mission involving electronic warfare and artillery support to distract enemy forces, the drone transported him to safety. He is currently recovering in a military hospital in Kharkiv.

Entities

30th Mechanized Brigade · 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade · Gurzuf Defence · Kharkiv · Kostiantyn Vlasenko · Kupyansk · Kup’yansk · Oskil River · Ukraine

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Ukrainian Soldier Trapped for 8 Months Lost One Foot to Frostbite and Cut Off the Other to Survive [pulptastic.com]
Украински войник, приклещен на фронта 8 месеца, загуби единия си крак от измръзване - отряза сам другия, за да оцелее [trafficnews.bg]
Ucraina: per la prima volta un drone pesante porta in volo un soldato ferito dal fronte [www.aerospacecue.it]
Украински войник бил принуден сам да ампутира единия си крак [novini247.com]
Video: 491 dní v pekle fronty. Uřízl si nohu, pak přišla průkopnická záchrana - Seznam Zprávy [www.seznamzpravy.cz]
Késsel vágta le saját lábát egy ukrán katona, aki összesen 491 napot töltött a frontvonalon [www.blikk.hu]
Ukraine Carries Out First Evacuation Of Wounded Soldier By Drone [crooksandliars.com]
Ukrainian soldier forced to cut his OWN LEG off after spending 70 WEEKS stranded before being rescued by drone [www.gbnews.com]
GUERRA UCRANIA | El soldado Konstiantyn y su rescate con dron [www.elperiodicoextremadura.com]
GUERRA UCRANIA | El soldado Konstiantyn y su rescate con dron [www.laopinioncoruna.es]
GUERRA UCRANIA | El soldado Konstiantyn y su rescate con dron [www.lne.es]
Priča bolja od filma: Kostja 491 dan preživeo u zoni smrti, sebi amputirao nogu, a onda je stigao spas sa neba [www.telegraf.rs]
62-kilometrowy lot dronem uratował rannego żołnierza uwięzionego od miesięcy | Najnowsze wiadomości z kraju i ze świata - upday News [www.upday.com]
Najhrabriji čovjek na svijetu: Proveo je 231 dan iza neprijateljskih linija, morao je sam sebi amputirati nogu [www.vecernji.ba]
Ukraine Evacuates Wounded Soldier Via Giant Drone [www.jalopnik.com]
Ukrainan soldier spent 491 days stranded before having to chop leg off [www.dailymail.com]
Ukrainian soldier ‘cut off own leg’ to survive before miracle drone rescue [www.independent.co.uk]
Ukrainian soldier trapped for 8 months lost one foot from frostbite — then cut off the other to survive [nypost.com]