A wounded Ukrainian soldier waited 2 days to be rescued. Then a drone flew him to safety

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Ukraine uses drones to evacuate wounded soldiers

   Ukrainian forces deployed specialized aerial rescue drones to evacuate wounded troops from the battlefield in operations near the Russian border. One soldier endured a two-day wait in the grey zone before being rescued by an unmanned aircraft. The newly developed StarGate and Heavy Shot six-rotor drones feature enclosed evacuation capsules designed to carry injured personnel to safety across hazardous terrain.

   Why it matters

   Evacuating wounded soldiers from active combat zones remains one of the most perilous challenges for military medics, often exposing rescue teams to direct enemy fire. The introduction of specialized aerial evacuation drones allows forces to retrieve stranded troops from dangerous areas without risking human rescue personnel. These missions highlight ongoing technological adaptations in frontline logistics.

   What is confirmed

   • Ukraine's military has started using specialized aerial rescue drones to evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
   • A wounded Ukrainian soldier waited two days to be rescued before a drone flew him to safety.
   • The StarGate drone is a six-rotor aircraft fitted with an enclosed evacuation capsule.
   • CODE 9.2 conducted two air evacuations using the StarGate drone.

   Still unconfirmed

   • A Ukrainian soldier severed his own foot to survive before being rescued.

   What to watch next

   • Expansion of aerial evacuation drone deployments to other frontline sectors.
   • Official military disclosures regarding the operational range and payload limits of the StarGate and Heavy Shot drones.
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. Reuters — A Ukrainian soldier severed his own foot to survive. Then came a dramatic rescue.
   2. Українська правда — 491 days in the grey zone and losing both feet: exclusive details of the first-ever aerial evacuation aboard a Heavy Shot drone
   3. Euromaidan Press — Captured Russians say there is one place on Kupiansk front they will not go: "Orion" safety corridor
   4. The Kyiv Independent — Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian forces carry out 2 aerial evacuations of wounded soldiers, video shows
   5. AP News — A wounded Ukrainian soldier waited 2 days to be rescued. Then a drone flew him to safety
   6. Українська правда — Ukrainian military rescues two wounded soldiers using aerial evacuation drone – video
   7. Мілітарний — 30 Kilometers With a Wounded Soldier: CODE 9.2 Conducted Two Air Evacuations Using the StarGate Drone
   8. www.independent.co.uk — A wounded Ukrainian soldier waited 2 days to be rescued. Then ...
   9. www.1news.co.nz — Wounded Ukrainian soldier waited 2 days for rescue - a drone ...
   10. www.yahoo.com — A wounded Ukrainian soldier waited 2 days to be rescued. Then ...
   11. www.bostonherald.com — A wounded Ukrainian soldier waited 2 days to be rescued. Then ...
   12. www.ctvnews.ca — A wounded Ukrainian soldier waited 2 days to be rescued. Then ...
   confidence 90%