Ukraine’s military says it has carried out what it describes as the first drone airlift of a wounded soldier from the front line.
The serviceman was surrounded by landmines and enemy drones, making it impossible for rescuers to reach him by ground, according to the military. A drone was used instead to remove the wounded soldier from the area.
The operation highlights the dangers facing evacuation teams near active combat zones, where mined ground and hostile drones can prevent conventional rescue attempts. It also marks a reported use of unmanned technology to carry out a task normally undertaken by a ground team or other evacuation vehicle.
The supplied account does not identify the soldier, give the location of the operation, or provide details about the nature of his injuries. Ukraine’s military has not provided further information on the soldier’s condition or on whether the method will be used in future evacuations.
