Ukraine Conducts Historic Aerial Drone Evacuation of Wounded Soldier
In a world-first, a wounded Ukrainian soldier was successfully evacuated from the frontline using a modified bomber drone, navigating heavily mined terrain and enemy drone swarms.
Ukraine has successfully conducted the first-ever aerial drone evacuation of a wounded soldier from the battlefield, marking a significant advancement in military logistics and casualty care.
The operation involved rescuing an infantryman, identified by the callsign 'Kostya', who was alone and injured in a position on the Kharkiv front. The area was described as heavily mined and under constant threat from Russian kamikaze 'first person view' (FPV) drones, making traditional ground or manned aerial evacuations impossible.
Commanders opted to use a heavily modified bomber drone, a 'Heavy Shot' manufactured by Gurzuf Defence, to perform the rescue. The drone, nicknamed 'Ayudag' after a mountain in Russian-occupied Crimea, has a reported lifting capacity of 90kg for up to 25 kilometers (16 miles).
Flanked by a coordinated fleet of smaller drones, including quadcopters armed with nets to intercept enemy aircraft and FPV drones for protection, the Heavy Shot drone landed beside the wounded soldier. Footage from the mission shows the serviceman from the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade strapping himself to a harness on the drone's underbelly.
Piloted by a serviceman known as ‘Chornyi' of the 30th Mechanised Brigade, the drone carried the 80kg soldier approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) away from the frontline to safety. The accompanying drones provided a protective screen against potential Russian aerial threats throughout the flight.
Upon landing, the soldier was greeted with the words, 'Welcome back to earth,' from the Squad Commander of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade's Unmanned Systems Unit. The infantryman is now receiving treatment and undergoing rehabilitation.
Officials from the involved units described the operation as a historic moment, signifying a new phase in the evacuation of wounded personnel. They emphasized that systematic work is now required to establish such missions as a regular capability.
Roman Tsymbaliuk, a representative from Gurzuf Defence, noted the extreme danger and complexity of the operation, stating that Russian forces actively target such aircraft. He confirmed that the Ayudag drone served as the primary evacuation platform, supported by a variety of other drones providing defense.
Gurzuf Defence provided the specialized hexacopter to the military units free of charge. The company, led by CEO Pavlo Feldblyum, manufactures a range of drones for Ukrainian forces, including models like 'Immortal,' 'Zhvvyi,' and the 'Heavy Shot,' with ongoing development for increased payload capacity. The company also highlighted its production of the Ayudag-6, which has been officially approved by the Ministry of Defence.