Deadly drone strikes transforming Ukraine's battlefront into a lethal danger zone, posing challenges for evacuation operations
In the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, the use of first-person-view (FPV) drones has transformed the battlefield, creating dangerous "kill zones" that extend up to 20 kilometers from the front line [1]. These zones, which are hazardous for vehicles and personnel, have significantly complicated medical evacuations for wounded soldiers, increasing the risk of transport and delaying evacuation efforts, thereby raising mortality among the injured.
FPV drones, equipped with rocket-propelled grenade warheads, pose a significant threat to soldiers and medical personnel. The high-precision and mobility of these drones make conventional medical evacuation convoys or transports increasingly vulnerable to drone strikes [2]. As a result, self-aid and self-evacuation have become critical adaptations for troops under these conditions [2].
The commander of the 59th Brigade medical unit, Buhor, has had to relocate 18 times since late 2022 due to troops being forced to retreat [3]. Buhor, a medical worker in eastern Ukraine, has witnessed firsthand the impact of FPV drones on the battlefield. He stated that everything is getting harder due to the growing use of FPV drones [3].
Valentyn Pidvalnyi, another soldier in eastern Ukraine, echoed Buhor's sentiments, stating that surviving one day as infantry is harder than one month on the positions in 2022 [6]. Artem Fursov, a soldier in eastern Ukraine, had to walk several kilometers to reach a medical post after being wounded by an explosive dropped from a drone [5].
Medics in eastern Ukraine have not treated gunshot wounds for months, and most injuries now come from FPV drones [4]. This shift in the nature of injuries has made evacuations even more challenging, as wounded soldiers often have to walk long distances to reach medical posts [7].
In conclusion, the use of FPV drones in eastern Ukraine has created persistent "kill zones" up to 20 kilometers from the front lines, restricting safe evacuation routes [1]. This reduction in medical evacuation capacity and increase in mortality among wounded soldiers has made self-aid and self-evacuation critical adaptations for troops under these conditions [2]. The drones' use of rocket-propelled grenade warheads causes severe blast and fragment injuries, increasing the urgency but complexity of evacuation [1]. These factors collectively have made medical evacuations riskier and slower, significantly impacting the survival chances of wounded soldiers in eastern Ukraine [2][4].
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