In brief
The Ukrainian Armed Forces released footage of a hexacopter lifting a wounded soldier from a mine‑laden frontline, claiming the operation is the world's first of its kind. Ground rescue was deemed impossible due to surface mines and high Russian drone activity. The drone maintained stability during a "very difficult" evacuation, transporting the servicemember to a rear‑area medical facility. Verification services confirmed the authenticity of the video, and experts say the event could reshape battlefield medical logistics.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces released footage on Friday showing a hexacopter lifting a wounded frontline soldier to safety – a milestone that the military says is the first of its kind in modern warfare.
The 92nd Assault Brigade explained that a ground rescue would have been impossible. "The veteran was surrounded by landmines and there was high Russian drone activity in the area," the unit said in a statement accompanying the clip.
The pilot’s remote‑control drone maintained stability in what the army described as a "very difficult" operation, with the wounded serviceman placed inside a protective sling and flown to a rear‑area medical facility.
BBC Verify confirmed that the footage was authentic, finding no signs of AI manipulation or computer‑generated content.
The event could signal a shift in battlefield medical logistics, with drones offering a rapid, low‑risk alternative to traditional evacuation methods under hostile conditions.
