How Ukrainian Troops Defied Drones and Used a Ground Robot to Rescue an Elderly Woman Near Pokrovsk

Fighters of Ukraine’s 25th Separate Airborne Brigade evacuated an elderly woman from the Pokrovsk area after she reached out to Ukrainian troops for help escaping the advancing fighting, the 7th Air Assault Corps reported on May 19.

“I will not live under the occupiers,” the woman, a resident of Dobropillia, said after reaching Ukrainian positions.

According to the military, staying in her hometown had become increasingly dangerous because of constant shelling and the approach of active combat operations.

Since the woman was evacuating with some of her belongings, Ukrainian defenders used one of their ground robotic platforms to help transport them during the first stage of the mission.

“Despite the difficult decision to leave her own home, the woman held on to her native land until the very end. The evacuation took place in difficult conditions: first, belongings were loaded onto a ground robotic platform, then several kilometers were covered on foot under the escort of our paratroopers.”

“Along the route, the group repeatedly had to hide from enemy drones. The final stage was evacuation by HMMWV to a safer area,” the paratroopers said.

Earlier, Ukrainian drone operators from the “Kraken 1654” unmanned systems regiment carried out a three-stage rescue mission to evacuate four civilians from an active combat zone near Lyman.

Truth is Under Attack

We report the war as it unfolds directly from the people and places most affected by it. Your support helps us bring these stories to the world.

SUPPORT