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Skittles: Inside Ukraine’s First-Ever Robotic Rescue of Wounded Soldiers Under Fire
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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Ukraine’s First Separate Medical Battalion carried out a complex evacuation mission, codenamed “Skittles,” rescuing two severely wounded soldiers from the same frontline position using unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), Battalion wrote on Telegram on November 12.
Both men were unable to move on their own, prompting medics to conduct two consecutive evacuations using an armored UGVs, spaced about two hours apart.
The operation covered a total distance of 84 kilometers, lasting nearly seven hours, with the vehicle averaging 14 km/h and reaching a top speed of 40 km/h.
During the loading of the second casualty, the UGV came under attack from a Russian FPV drone. Thanks to the armored capsule, the wounded soldier was unharmed, and the vehicle continued its mission, battalion wrote.
Both servicemen were successfully evacuated and received urgent medical care before being transferred to the next stage of treatment. Their condition is reported as stable.
Battalion noted, “If we have the chance to return for the second one—we do. Because tomorrow, the conditions will not be better. He’s waiting.”
Previously, it was reported that European defense company ARX Robotics has introduced its first combat unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), the Combat Gereon, developed in cooperation with Ukrainian partners.
According to the company’s press office, the system is designed under the concept of “first unmanned contact,” performing high-risk missions in place of soldiers and reducing battlefield casualties.
