Ukrainian Brigade Uses Drone and Robot to Save Wounded Soldier
A combined rescue operation involving a bomber drone, an electric unicycle, and a ground robot helped save a soldier on the Dobropillia front.
By Hassan Ellis ·
Soldiers from the 14th National Guard Brigade, known as Chervona Kalyna, successfully rescued a wounded comrade on the Dobropillia front using a combination of advanced military equipment. The operation involved a heavy bomber drone, an electric unicycle, and an unmanned ground vehicle to navigate hostile territory.
The rescue took place over two days in autumn 2026. The National Guard of Ukraine confirmed the operation but did not specify the exact date. The area was under constant threat, with Russian forces able to fire at any moment on troops moving in or out.
The injured soldier, who uses the alias Yapokha, was seriously wounded while moving into a defensive position. A fellow soldier known as Zeus dragged him to safety, administered first aid, and stopped the bleeding. A separate group of soldiers later assisted in moving him to shelter. Yapokha had lost a significant amount of blood and required a transfusion to survive.
Battalion commander Vais stated, "We made a decision at the battalion command post to form a mobile heavy bomber drone group that would deliver the blood directly to the serviceman at his position." The head of intensive care for the brigade's medical company guided the soldiers through the procedure via a video link.
The initial blood delivery proved insufficient, so the team sent additional units by drone to perform a second transfusion. In total, the wounded soldier received more than one liter of blood. Once his condition stabilized, the team began the evacuation process.
To speed up the journey across difficult terrain, a heavy bomber drone delivered an electric unicycle to the soldiers' location. Vais explained, "Having covered 2 km on the unicycle, we reached a less intense zone where a ground robotic system could be used. We travelled another 14 km on the UGV with a cover group."
During this phase, soldiers from the Omega special forces unit joined the effort. They brought in an unmanned ground vehicle to transport the wounded man. Zeus accompanied the injured soldier throughout the evacuation. Along the way, Zeus also destroyed a Russian ambush drone that targeted the group.
The unmanned ground vehicle carried the soldier to a safe area, where he was transferred to another vehicle to continue his journey. The operation also involved an armored team and a dedicated medical evacuation vehicle. Vais noted, "Thanks to these combined actions, we were able to save the serviceman. He has been stabilised and evacuated, and the serviceman is alive."
This rescue follows a similar incident reported by Ukrainska Pravda, where Ukrainian soldiers used a ground robot to evacuate a wounded comrade from Kostiantynivka. In that previous case, Russian drones struck the first robot, but the soldiers succeeded on their second attempt after switching vehicles and changing routes.
