Ukraine's 92nd Separate Assault Brigade said a heavy drone evacuated a wounded infantryman after mines and Russian drone activity made it impossible to send an unmanned ground vehicle to him.
Gurzuf Defence, which built the aircraft, put the flight at 62 kilometers and one hour, 14 minutes and 36 seconds. Its Heavy Shot “Ayudag 6” hexacopter carried the man away from the front line. The brigade announced the rescue on Oct. 19 without giving the flight's date or location.
Oboronka reported, based on interviews with people involved, that the flight took place Oct. 4 in the Kupiansk sector. Gurzuf said the soldier had spent 491 days in forward positions. Fellow troops kept in touch with him and delivered food, water, medicine and ammunition by drone, the company said. EconoTimes previously covered the soldier's injury and evacuation.
The 92nd said Gurzuf supplied the drone at no cost. Brigade specialists worked with the manufacturer to modify and test the aircraft so it could carry a person while remaining stable, according to the military. An operator from the 30th Separate Mechanised Brigade, the wounded soldier's unit, flew it.
Video released by the 92nd shows the soldier securing himself beneath the aircraft before takeoff. Gurzuf said troops met him after the flight and arranged his onward evacuation to a hospital. The brigade said his condition was no longer life-threatening as he continued treatment and rehabilitation.
The brigade said the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 10th Army Corps also took part. Gurzuf said a rescue team could not safely reach the soldier on the ground.
Gurzuf described the hexacopter as a modular platform, rather than an aircraft built solely for medical transport. The company said flying a wounded person carries considerable risk and should be reserved for cases in which other means of rescue are unavailable.
