AFU Drone Guides Ukrainian Woman to Safety Across Destroyed Bridge in Escape from Russian Occupation

On June 11, a video surfaced online showing the woman walking across the damaged Antonivskyi Bridge from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, Kherson Region.

According to the Telegram channel “Most: Kherson,” a Ukrainian drone operator spotted the woman as she waved her Ukrainian passport at it. The drone then guided her to the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the opposite side of the bridge. Soldiers then safely transported her by boat back to territory controlled by Ukraine.

According to the soldier who assisted her, identified by his call sign “Max”, the woman left Ukraine for Russia at the war’s outset but later decided to return home.

“This woman, birthdate 1973, was determined to reach the other side. She walked for a long time, and thankfully, no one stopped her, likely because it was too dangerous. When she noticed a drone following her, she took out her Ukrainian passport and held it up to the camera, showing them she was a citizen and wanted to return home. The drone then guided her to a safe haven where she wouldn’t be in danger. Soldiers rushed out, brought her to the shelter, and awaited further instructions to evacuate her,” the soldier said.

The woman began her trek from the Russian city of Belgorod, traveling first to Dzhankoi, then Skadovsk, and finally Radensk and Oleshky.

After spending a night in Oleshky, the woman set out on foot for the Antonivskyi Bridge, unaware of its destruction.

On the morning of November 10, 2022, Russian forces detonated the Antonivskyi Bridge. The destruction occurred following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the right bank of the Kherson region.

The commander of the rescue mission emphasized the inherent danger of the six-hour evacuation process, posing a risk not only to the woman but also to the Defense Forces personnel involved, as enemy attacks were a constant threat.

The woman, whose identity is being withheld, is now safe and in good health.

“This is a truly unique event,” a soldier said. “It’s extraordinary to see people overcome such fear and risk so much just to get back home.”

According to a Defense Forces soldier, the path taken by the woman could theoretically be replicated by other residents of the temporarily occupied left bank of the Kherson region, but it’s a “gamble.”

This is not the first instance of people escaping the Russian occupation by all means. On June 4, a 98-year-old resident of the partially occupied village of Ocheretyne in the Donetsk region walked under fire approximately ten kilometers to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory.