Ukrainian Regiment Deploys AI Drone for 60 km Medical Evacuation

Ukraine’s 475th Separate Assault Regiment, also designated CODE 9.2, completed two aerial casualty evacuations over the past week using the StarGate drone. The unit pulled two wounded soldiers from a position roughly five kilometers from the Russian border. Both patients, identified as 25-year-old Yevhen and 24-year-old Artem, suffered severe limb injuries while stationed in what the military termed the grey zone.

The regiment cited difficult terrain, water obstacles, and the threat of enemy FPV drones as the reasons ground evacuation was unfeasible. The unit spent one week coordinating the missions with SkyFall, the manufacturer of the StarGate aircraft. These preparations included securing fire support and suppressing Russian positions with Vampire attack drones to clear a path for the rescue flights.

During one operation, the StarGate traveled nearly 30 kilometers to reach the soldier and the same distance back with the patient on board. The enemy actively deployed electronic warfare systems in the area, attempting to suppress satellite navigation signals. The drone’s AI-based navigation system allowed the mission to proceed successfully despite the loss of GPS data.

The StarGate is a remotely operated aircraft with a maximum speed of 105 kilometers per hour. It has a range of up to 30 kilometers and can carry a payload of up to 150 kilograms. For medical use, the aircraft is fitted with a dedicated capsule containing a stretcher.

Oleksandr Nastenko, the commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment, stated that the experience from these missions will help the unit establish a dedicated medical aviation branch. He explained that this new sub-unit will specialize specifically in evacuating wounded soldiers by air.

SkyFall previously handed the StarGate to the military for frontline testing. On October 19, a separate Ukrainian unit used a drone from Gurzuf Defence to evacuate a wounded soldier, marking the first reported instance of an aerial extraction by that specific manufacturer.

The 475th regiment noted that the successful use of the StarGate validates the concept of using AI-driven drones for battlefield logistics in high-interference environments.