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[INTERNATIONAL] · Ukraine · 54 sources

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Ukraine conducts first documented aerial drone medical evacuation of wounded soldier

The Ukrainian military has successfully completed the first documented aerial medical evacuation of a wounded soldier using a drone in combat history. The operation was carried out by specialists from the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade in collaboration with the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

The wounded infantryman, identified by the call sign “Kostya,” was injured at a position in the eastern Kharkiv region. Due to intense Russian drone activity and heavy minefields, conventional ground evacuation via personnel or unmanned ground vehicles was deemed too dangerous.

To perform the rescue, a modified Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 hexacopter, manufactured by the Ukrainian company Gurzuf Defence, was deployed. The drone, which was provided to the military free of charge, was specifically adapted to maintain stability while transporting a human payload. The soldier was secured to the aircraft via a safety harness and flown to a safe location.

The mission lasted approximately 1 hour and 14 minutes, with the drone traveling a distance of 62 kilometers. The soldier is currently recovering and undergoing rehabilitation. While this marks a significant technological milestone, industry experts noted that aerial evacuation remains an extreme last resort due to the high risks involved for the patient during flight.

Entities

30th Mechanized Brigade · 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade · 92nd Assault Brigade · 92nd Separate Assault Brigade · Anton Gerashchenko · Gurzuf Defence · Heavy Shot Ayudag · Kharkiv · Konstantin Vlasenko · Pavlo Feldblium · Ukraine

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