Ukrainian regiment pulls two wounded soldiers from front line using cargo drone
The 475th Separate Assault Regiment used an AI-guided StarGate drone to extract fighters from a high-risk zone near the Russian border this week.
By Nadia Singh ·
Ukrainian troops from the 475th Separate Assault Regiment, also known as CODE 9.2, extracted two injured soldiers from the battlefield this week using a specialized cargo drone. The unit employed the StarGate aircraft, developed by the manufacturer SkyFall, to transport the fighters out of a dangerous area near the Russian border.
The rescued soldiers are Yevhen, who goes by the callsign Izium, and Artem, known as Kolobok. Both men suffered severe injuries to their limbs. They were trapped in the grey zone, a contested area located roughly 5 km from the Russian border. The unit stated that ground evacuation was not possible due to difficult terrain, water obstacles, and the constant threat of enemy first-person-view drones.
The military spent one week preparing for these missions in coordination with SkyFall representatives. The operations required fire support and close coordination with other units in the Ukrainian defense forces. Heavy Vampire attack drones were deployed to suppress Russian positions, creating a window for the evacuations.
During one mission, the StarGate drone traveled nearly 30 km to reach the serviceman's position and flew a similar distance back with the soldier on board. Russian forces actively used electronic warfare systems in the operational area to disrupt satellite navigation signals. The drone relied on an artificial intelligence-based navigation system to complete the flight successfully despite the loss of GPS signals.
Oleksandr Nastenko, the commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment, said the experience gained from these missions will help the unit establish a dedicated medical aviation unit. He explained that this new division will specialize in evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield by air.
The StarGate drone has a maximum range of 30 km and can carry a payload of up to 150 kg. For casualty evacuation, it is fitted with a medical capsule containing a stretcher. The aircraft has a top speed of 105 km/h and is remotely operated. Its AI-powered systems allow it to function without GPS and in the face of electronic warfare interference. On October 19, a different Ukrainian unit used a drone from Gurzuf Defence to evacuate a wounded soldier for the first time.
