Key facts
- A wounded soldier was evacuated by drone from a front-line position.
- The mission utilized a Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 heavy-lift hexacopter drone.
- The evacuation covered 62 kilometers and lasted over an hour.
- Ground evacuation was impossible due to Russian drone activity and mined terrain.
Ukrainian forces have successfully evacuated a wounded soldier from a front-line position using a heavy-lift hexacopter drone, in what the military and drone manufacturer Gurzuf Defense described as a "first-of-its-kind" mission. The operation, which took place on Oct. 19, involved the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade, and 10th Army Corps, along with Gurzuf Defense. The wounded soldier, who had been in a front-line position for nearly 500 days, sustained a severe injury. Ground evacuation was impossible due to Russian drone activity and mined terrain, posing significant risks to rescue teams. The mission involved delivering specialized equipment to the soldier, who then attached himself to the drone's winch system. The drone remotely transported him to a secure location, covering 62 kilometers in just over an hour. The soldier is now receiving medical treatment and is reported to be out of danger.