Ukraine’s armed forces carried out their first reported evacuation of a wounded service member from a combat zone using a heavy hexacopter. The October 4 mission followed repeated attempts to reach the isolated position that had been disrupted by Russian forces. Radio Svoboda reported the account on Sunday, October 25.

Kostiantyn Vlasenko, a 49-year-old infantryman with the 30th Brigade, remained alone after a fellow soldier was killed. Drone drops supplied him with food, water, warm clothing and medicine, while he maintained hourly contact with his unit and relayed observations from the Kupiansk sector.

Troops from the 92nd Brigade and specialists from Gurzuf Defence adapted and tested the aircraft for the rescue. With no voice connection available, they delivered a video a day before the operation showing Vlasenko how to secure himself to the drone. Several Ukrainian units, along with artillery, electronic warfare and air-defense teams, supported the flight of more than 15 kilometers through an active combat and jamming environment.

Vlasenko said his wounds and gangrene cost him both legs and forced him to perform one amputation himself. After the hexacopter landed at the evacuation point, soldiers helped recover him. He was later interviewed while receiving treatment at a hospital in Kharkiv.