By October 20, 2026, Ukraine’s military announced a significant achievement in frontline medical evacuations. This milestone involved using an aerial drone to rescue a wounded soldier, marking a world-first for Ukraine, a nation known for its drone expertise as Russia’s invasion approaches five years.
The 92nd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces reported that they evacuated a soldier from the front lines using a heavy-lift drone. For nearly 500 days, soldier Konstantyn Vlasenko from the 30th Separate Brigade was trapped due to heavily mined areas and persistent Russian drone activity. Reports from Ukrainian news outlets, including military-linked sources, indicated that Vlasenko had been injured by a Russian drone earlier in the year. While awaiting rescue, he had to perform partial self-amputations of his legs.
A Ukrainian-made Gurzuf Defence heavy hexacopter, originally designed as an attack drone, was adapted for the rescue operation. The company provided the drone to the military at no cost. Specialists collaborated to modify the drone, ensuring it could transport a person safely. The new configuration underwent a successful test before the mission commenced.
The rescue involved four different Ukrainian brigades and required a week of preparation. Despite its complexity, the actual evacuation took approximately one hour and 15 minutes. During this time, the drone covered nearly 40 miles, with Ukrainian units deploying additional drones to divert Russian attention.
An image shared by the 92nd Assault Brigade showed a wounded soldier being transported by the drone during the operation.
Gurzuf Defence co-founder Pavlo Feldbloom mentioned to CBS News that their platform was initially not intended for dedicated evacuations. Instead, it was developed as a heavy-duty, multi-mission drone. Feldbloom explained that while it can undertake rescue missions, such evacuations are viewed as a last resort due to potential risks to the individual in flight.
Previously, Ukrainian forces attempted a ground drone rescue, a strategy they have refined during the conflict. Unfortunately, the ground drone was destroyed en route to Vlasenko. Upon his safe return, Vlasenko described his drone-assisted flight as calm and expressed relief at being back in friendly territory.
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