Ukraine says world-first drone rescue of wounded soldier near Kharkiv

Heavy hexacopter lifts injured infantryman out of mined frontline area, video shows

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Ukrainian forces say they carried out the first ever aerial rescue of a wounded soldier using an unmanned drone, lifting an injured infantryman from a heavily mined area on the eastern Kharkiv front. Video released by the United24 fundraising platform shows the man, known by the callsign Kostya, being carried from an area behind enemy lines and flown to safety.

Ukraine's United24 news service released the footage on October 19, describing the operation as a historic first carried out by soldiers from the 92nd Assault Brigade and the 30th Mechanized Brigade.

The wounded soldier was reported to be stuck in a minefield and at risk from Russian kamikaze drones. Media reports suggested he was as far as 18km behind enemy lines, though the rescue distance was later given as 8km. With a land rescue impossible, Kostya clipped himself into a harness attached to a heavy Gurzuf Defence hexacopter. "That's it, we can take off," he said once strapped in.

The drone is rated to carry up to 130kg and has previously moved loads of 90kg over distances of up to 25km. Kostya weighs about 80kg. The flight was supported by a fleet of Ukrainian drones, including kamikaze devices and UAVs fitted with anti-drone nets.

UAV operator 'Black', from the 20th Mechanized Battalion, said the team stayed in contact with the soldier throughout. "We were constantly in touch with him," he said. "A lot of people were involved, and everything worked out for us."

On touchdown, the control room told Kostya: "Congratulations, you're on the ground." The soldier is now receiving treatment and recovering.

A brigade leader, callsign 'Napalm', said the operation could mark the beginning of a new system for evacuating wounded or stranded soldiers using drone technology.

Analysis

Why This Matters

If confirmed, this would be the first known case of a live human being lifted by drone in combat, giving ground commanders a new way to extract casualties from positions that armoured ambulances cannot reach.
It extends the role of drones on the battlefield from surveillance and attack into medical logistics, a task that has usually required vulnerable ground vehicles or helicopters.
The flight was conducted close to enemy positions under the threat of Russian kamikaze drones, and the technique may now be copied, adapted or countered in future fighting.

Background

Drones have been used extensively on both sides in the war in Ukraine for reconnaissance, artillery spotting and one-way attack missions. Medical evacuation on the front line normally depends on armoured vehicles, which struggle in minefields, or helicopters, which are exposed to air defences. Heavy multirotor drones have been used to deliver supplies and retrieve equipment, and the Ukrainian operation appears to combine that lifting capacity with a human harness for the first time. The Ukrainian account rests on video and statements released by the units involved rather than on independent observation.

Key Perspectives

Ukrainian military: The 92nd Assault Brigade, the 30th Mechanized Brigade and United24 present the rescue as a successful first, with the wounded soldier now recovering and the method already being discussed as a future system for evacuations. The soldiers involved: Kostya agreed to be lifted, the operator 'Black' emphasised coordination between the team and headquarters, and commander 'Napalm' signalled that the approach could be expanded. Critics and skeptics: The claim is so far based on a single video release from the side performing the operation. Heavy-lift drones are likely to be scarce and expensive, and both the drone and the suspended soldier would be exposed to enemy fire during any such evacuation.

What to Watch

Whether Ukrainian authorities or independent sources release further details or corroboration of the October 19 rescue.
Whether drone-based casualty evacuations are attempted again on other sectors of the front.
How Russian forces respond, including possible efforts to detect, jam or shoot down heavy-lift drones used for rescue.

Sources

Ukraine rescues wounded soldier using drone in daring 'world's first' UAV evacuation of a human · Latest from Tom's Hardware

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedUkraine says the drone rescue of a wounded soldier near Kharkiv was a world first.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “The Ukrainian military is claiming a world’s first after using an unmanned drone to rescue an injured soldier on the eastern Kharkiv front.”
SupportedVideo shows a heavy hexacopter lifting an injured infantryman from a heavily mined frontline area.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Soldiers from the 92nd Assault Brigade and 30th Mechanized Brigade used a heavy Gurzuf Defence hexacopter to rescue the wounded infantryman from a heavily mined area.”
Not in the sourcesUnited24 is described as a fundraising platform that released the video.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Ukraine’s United24 news shared a video of the historic first.”
SupportedUnited24 released the footage on October 19 and described the operation as a historic first carried out by soldiers from two brigades.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Ukraine’s United24 news shared a video of the historic first. It also explained that the wounded infantryman was stuck in a heavily mined area, guarded by Russian kamikaze drones . 🔴 HISTORIC FIRST: Ukrainian forces completed the first-ever aerial evacuation of an injured soldier from the frontline using a drone.Soldiers from the 92nd Assault Brigade and 30th Mechanized Brigade used a heavy Gurzuf Defence hexacopter to rescue the wounded infantryman from a heavily mined area. October 19, 2026”
Partly supportedMedia reports placed the soldier as far as 18km behind enemy lines, while the rescue distance was later given as 8km.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Various media reports suggest he was 11 miles (18km) behind enemy lines, at the mercy of Russian kamikaze drones, and perilously located in a minefield. ... Rescue distance: 8km (11 miles)”
SupportedKostya said, “That's it, we can take off,” once strapped into the harness.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “He said, “That’s it, we can take off,” when he was fully buckled into the rudimentary-looking harness.”
SupportedThe hexacopter is capable of carrying up to 130kg.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Drone capable of carrying 130kg (~287 pounds)”
SupportedThe drone had previously transported 90kg loads up to 25km.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “Drone’s known range: it has previously transported 90kg (~198 pounds) loads up to 25km (16 miles)”
SupportedA fleet of Ukrainian support drones included kamikaze devices and UAVs fitted with anti-drone nets.Latest from Tom's Hardware: “the surrounding presence of a fleet of Ukrainian support drones, both kamikaze devices and UAVs with anti-drone nets”
SupportedBlack said, “We were constantly in touch with him.”Latest from Tom's Hardware: “UAV operator , callsign ‘Black’ from the 20th Mechanized Battalion, 30th Infantry Brigade, then appeared in the video and explained: “We were constantly in touch with him."”
SupportedBlack said, “A lot of people were involved, and everything worked out for us.”Latest from Tom's Hardware: ““A lot of people were involved, and everything worked out for us,” he said.”
SupportedThe control room told Kostya, “Congratulations, you're on the ground.”Latest from Tom's Hardware: “control said, “Congratulations, you’re on the ground,” to Kostya, as he touched down in a field.”