A 77-year-old woman was successfully evacuated from a conflict area in eastern Ukraine using a ground robot, as reported by the Third Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The operation, which took place near the town of Lyman, involved military personnel who identified the woman moving through a dangerous zone filled with shell craters and the remains of fellow villagers.
The evacuation was executed by soldiers operating unmanned ground systems known as “Cerberus.” To minimize the woman’s distress, the robot was covered with a blanket and marked with the phrase “Grandma, sit down!” to reassure her before the drone’s appearance.
After successfully boarding the robot, the woman was transported to a safe location where she was met by Ukrainian soldiers. The entire rescue operation lasted approximately four hours. The woman had lived in her home for 53 years before it was destroyed by occupying forces.
In addition to her, three other civilians were escorted to an evacuation point by drones as they attempted to leave the area on foot.
Drone Evacuations in Combat Zones
Ukraine has been developing heavy multicopters capable of evacuating injured personnel from the battlefield. These larger drones, previously used for logistics and combat missions, are now being considered as a viable alternative for evacuations in high-risk environments, particularly in so-called “grey zones” where ground evacuations are often impractical due to enemy drone activity.
According to General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the military is currently testing aerial platforms for evacuations as part of a strategy known as the “golden hour,” which is critical for the survival of the injured. However, a significant limitation remains the absence of medical personnel on board, which restricts the ability to stabilize patients during transport.
The Ukrainian military has successfully evacuated a 77-year-old woman from a conflict zone using a ground robot, highlighting innovative approaches to civilian rescue amid ongoing hostilities. This operation underscores the military's adaptation of drone technology for humanitarian efforts in high-risk areas.