Ukrainian StarGate drone evacuates wounded soldier for third time: Details of operation
SkyFall's StarGate drone successfully evacuates wounded soldier (Photo: SkyFall)
Ukrainian troops have evacuated a wounded fellow soldier for the third time using a StarGate drone. This time, the operation saved a 54-year-old soldier who had remained at his position for nearly two months after being injured in a mine blast, according to SkyFall, the defense technology company that developed the UAV.
57 days at a position after being wounded
The evacuation operation was carried out by soldiers of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment CODE 9.2. Over the course of several days, they planned and carried out an aerial rescue of a serviceman from a neighboring unit.
The rescued soldier was 54-year-old Andrii, call sign "Donbas." He had been at a combat position since late May. On September 2, while carrying out a combat mission, he was injured in a mine blast.
Due to the difficult terrain, minefields, shelling, and systematic attacks by Russian FPV drones, evacuating him by ground transport was impossible.
A CASEVAC StarGate unmanned platform was deployed to rescue the soldier. The drone traveled more than 15 kilometers one way and picked up the wounded serviceman from a position located two kilometers from the state border with Russia.
Ukrainian troops have evacuated a wounded fellow soldier for the third time using a StarGate drone. This time, the operation saved a 54-year-old soldier who had remained at his position for nearly two months after being injured in a mine blast, according to SkyFall, the defense… pic.twitter.com/SuzZIKSlPX
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) November 2, 2026
After the evacuation, Andrii was taken to a hospital, where he is receiving treatment.
Three successful military rescues
This was the third successful aerial evacuation using StarGate. In total, over a week and a half, the drone has helped rescue three severely wounded servicemen.
SkyFall, together with the CODE 9.2 unit, continues to develop the technology and work toward its wider use for military aerial evacuations.
Read also: Just 5 km from the Russian border: troops use StarGate drone to carry out two difficult evacuations
The company plans to help introduce this technology in other military units. Its goal is to make it possible to rescue wounded soldiers in situations where ground evacuation is impossible.
What is known about the StarGate drone
StarGate is a specialized unmanned aerial platform designed to evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield (CASEVAC). It was developed by SkyFall at the request of the military.
The drone can carry a payload of up to 150 kg and reach speeds of up to 105 km/h.
StarGate drone used to evacuate troops from the front line (Photo: SkyFall)
StarGate drone used to evacuate troops from the front line (Photo: SkyFall)
StarGate drone used to evacuate troops from the front line (Photo: SkyFall)
StarGate drone used to evacuate troops from the front line (Photo: SkyFall)
The platform is equipped with artificial intelligence, navigation, and backup communication systems. According to the company, this allows it to continue carrying out its mission even when GPS is jammed or communication is lost.
Read more about SkyFall's first aerial platform for evacuating military personnel in the report.
We also previously reported on how SkyFall's Vampire drone delivered food to civilians in the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky.
