Ukrainian forces recently carried out a successful rescue operation, successfully bringing back a wounded soldier who had been stranded behind enemy lines for 33 days. The team used a special robotic platform, designed like a casket, which could navigate through dangerous areas filled with landmines and potential threats from drones.
After six previous attempts by the medical team of the Ukrainian Ground Forces to reach the soldier, they focused on areas controlled by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. For this mission, they utilized a ground drone meant for evacuating injured individuals. This unique platform, resembling an armored casket mounted on a sturdy vehicle, traveled around 40 miles, including nearly 23 miles on a damaged wheel after it struck a landmine.
The entire operation lasted slightly less than six hours, as reported via social media updates by the battalion. Volodymyr Koval, who manages communications for the medical team, noted that another unit reached out for help after their four attempts to save the soldier had failed.
A key factor in the success of this mission was the drone’s ability to stay connected with the trapped soldier and coordinate support efforts from the air. Koval explained that they were able to deliver food via drones, which helped them devise an effective plan for the rescue. The team carefully studied the area and mapped out their route, but past tries had encountered problems due to enemy mines and drone attacks. Ultimately, the seventh attempt was successful, despite the drone sustaining damage from an anti-personnel mine during the extraction.
A robot approached a soldier who needed help, allowing him to climb into a protective capsule. As this rescue unit was returning to safety, it came under attack from a drone. Fortunately, the soldier was safe inside the capsule.
Once the robot reached an area controlled by Ukraine, military medics quickly provided first aid and stabilized the soldier’s condition. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared an update in a video message, announcing that the injured soldier was now receiving treatment and rehabilitation. He praised the dedicated team from the 1st Medical Battalion for their efforts and highlighted the importance of innovative rescue operations on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy stated his commitment to improving military technology by using more ground robots and various types of drones. These upgrades will strengthen combat missions, support soldiers, and make it easier to evacuate injured troops.
A representative from the battalion noted that this wasn’t the first time they had used robotic systems to evacuate soldiers, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. He explained that this particular rescue highlighted determination and the commitment to ensuring that every soldier knows their team will do everything possible to bring them home safely, even in challenging circumstances. The aim is to make these unmanned rescues a feasible option right from the front lines, showing that hard work is being put into saving lives during tough situations.
The MAUL robot used in a recent operation was originally created by the 1st Medical Battalion but is now produced and sold by a Ukrainian company called DevDroid, which took over its design.
According to the battalion, the MAUL robot is designed to help safely transport injured people. It runs on gas and can go as fast as 70 kilometers per hour (about 43 miles per hour). The robot has a special armored section to protect those inside and comes with unique wheels that don’t need air.
Right now, DevDroid sells these robots for about $19,000 each.
Earlier this year, the 13th Khartia Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard used a simpler robot called the Zmiy-500. This ground drone provides less protection for its passengers but was still effective in transporting an injured soldier and delivering supplies to the front lines. According to a post from the brigade, the drone successfully traveled over 20 miles to complete its mission without any incident.
