Ukraine Conducts First Drone Air Evacuation of Wounded Soldier

Ukrainian forces successfully airlifted a wounded soldier from the front line using a heavy-lift hexacopter, publicly announcing the operation on October 19, 2026[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][9][10][11][13][14]. The mission, which lasted approximately 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 36 seconds, covered a distance of 62 kilometers (39 miles), transporting the soldier to safety[4][7].

This event demonstrates a significant shift in battlefield medical evacuation tactics, showing how unmanned aerial vehicles can provide rescue options when traditional ground-based methods are impossible due to landmines and intense enemy drone activity[1][3][4][5][6][7][10][13][14].

What the records show

Kostiantyn, a 49-year-old infantryman with the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade, was wounded at his position, eventually losing both legs[5][8]. His location became isolated due to landmines and continuous enemy drone activity, making ground rescue too dangerous[1][3][4][5][6][7][10][13][14]. Ukrainian forces maintained communication with Kostiantyn and delivered food, water, ammunition, and medicine to him using drones[7][8].

The evacuation employed an Ayudag-6 heavy-lift hexacopter, also known as Heavy Shot Ayudag-6, produced by the Ukrainian company Gurzuf Defence[3][4][7][8]. Specialists from the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade worked with Gurzuf Defence to modify the drone so it could stably carry a person[3][4][5]. The team also provided Kostiantyn with a video tutorial on how to attach himself to the drone using special equipment and carabiners[5][7][8].

The mission involved the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, and the 10th Army Corps, in collaboration with Gurzuf Defence[7][8][10][12]. An experienced drone operator from the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade, call sign "Chornyi" ("Black"), remotely piloted the hexacopter[5][7][10]. Kostiantyn secured himself to the drone, which then flew him to a safer location where other soldiers were waiting to take him to a hospital[7]. He is now recovering, and his life is no longer at risk[8][10]. The evacuation took place near the Kupiansk axis in Kharkiv Oblast[8].

What changed

This drone airlift represents a new tactical advance in battlefield medical evacuation[3]. "Napalm," a squad leader and programmer for a robotics company within the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, described the operation as "an extremely difficult operation, but successful" and "a historic event, the next stage of casualty evacuations that we will all come to"[5][10]. Gurzuf Defence stated the mission was an operation "that no one has ever performed before" or "unprecedented"[3][7].

What the subject has said publicly

Drone operator "Chornyi" said, "We passed special gear to our brother-in-arms and recorded a video tutorial on how to use it. I am very glad that everything worked out. The operation was well-planned, and a lot of people were involved"[5][10].

What we could not confirm

Ukrainian military officials did not disclose the exact date of the evacuation mission[7]. The precise location of the evacuation was not publicly detailed, beyond its general vicinity near the Kupiansk axis in Kharkiv Oblast[8].