World · Europe · 35 mins ago
Ukraine evacuates wounded soldier from front line by heavy-lift drone
Ukrainian forces used a drone to evacuate a wounded soldier from a front-line position in the war with Russia.
Ground rescue was considered too dangerous because of Russian drone activity and mines.
The soldier had been at the position for nearly 500 days, and fellow troops had supplied him with essentials by drone.
A heavy-lift drone carried him 62 kilometres to a safer place, where soldiers arranged his onward transfer to hospital.
The mission took 1 hour, 14 minutes and 36 seconds, and the soldier is now receiving treatment and rehabilitation.
His life is no longer in danger, according to his brigade.
The operation was described as a first, but accounts differed on which Ukrainian brigade carried it out.
Military officials say systematic work is needed before such rescues can be repeated regularly, and the drone manufacturer cautioned that each flight must be planned for its specific risks.
Ukraine says it used a heavy-lift drone to evacuate a wounded soldier directly from a front-line position for the first time.
The soldier was serving with the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade and had spent nearly 500 days at the position.
Ground evacuation was considered too dangerous because of Russian drone activity and mined terrain.
The drone carried the soldier 62 kilometers to a safer position during a mission lasting 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 36 seconds.
The soldier is receiving treatment and rehabilitation, and his life is no longer in danger.
- Who
- A wounded soldier serving with Ukraine’s 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade was evacuated by Ukrainian troops.
- What
- A heavy-lift drone carried him from a front-line position to a safer place for further evacuation to hospital.
- When
- The operation date was not disclosed. It was announced on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The section of the front line was not disclosed.
- Why
- Ground evacuation was considered too dangerous because of Russian drone activity and mined terrain.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The soldier remained at a front-line position under constant threat, while fellow soldiers delivered supplies by drone.
Troops used a heavy-lift drone to lift him and transport him to a safer position.
The mission covered 62 kilometers and lasted 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 36 seconds.
Other soldiers arranged further evacuation to hospital, and the soldier began treatment and rehabilitation.
The Ukrainian military and Gurzuf Defense announced the operation.
- Soldier’s brigade
- 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade
- Rescue drone
- Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 heavy-lift hexacopter
- Distance flown
- 62 kilometers (39 miles)
- Mission duration
- 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 36 seconds
- Operation date
- Not disclosed
6 sources
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What people are saying
An extremely complex operation, but a successful one. This is a historic event,
Air rescue is a last resort when there is no other way to save a person.