Ukraine says drone carried wounded soldier from front line in world-first evacuation
publishers 39articles 42first reported 15 Oct, 23:30 UTCdeveloping since 16 Oct · 16 editions
Ukraine’s military says it has evacuated a wounded soldier from the front line with an aerial drone, describing the operation as the first of its kind in the world.
The 92nd Separate Assault Brigade released video Monday showing the serviceman securing himself to a large heavy-lift hexacopter before being flown at low altitude and lowered to the ground. BBC Verify said it confirmed the identities of military personnel shown in the footage and found no evidence that the video had been generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence.
The brigade said a conventional rescue was impossible because the soldier’s position was surrounded by landmines and exposed to intense Russian drone activity. Operators modified and tested the Ukrainian-made aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, to ensure it could carry a person without overturning or swaying excessively during flight.
Reports from Ukrainian outlets credited personnel from the 92nd Assault Brigade and the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade with the rescue. Euobserver, citing Ukrainian defense outlet Oboronka, identified the soldier as Kostiantyn “Magura” Vlasenko of the 30th Brigade and said the operation took place near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, east of the Oskil River.
The brigade said the soldier is receiving treatment and rehabilitation. Ukraine’s claim that the evacuation was a global first has not been independently established.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 114 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- This version written
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