(DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE) – The Ukrainian military has successfully conducted a complex medical evacuation using the MAUL ground drone to rescue a wounded soldier from a high risk area. The First Separate Medical Battalion confirmed the operation was carried out alongside the 53rd Separate Mechanised Brigade.
During a recent engagement, a soldier from the 53rd brigade sustained gunshot wounds and became stranded in a contested territory known as the grey zone. The situation was particularly challenging because the individual was located behind the lines of the Russian dictator.
The military command prioritised the rescue and opted for an urgent evacuation using unmanned ground vehicles. The operation faced significant hurdles as the soldier was positioned deep within hostile territory. The brigade reportedly made eight initial attempts to reach the wounded man. Despite these setbacks, the command maintained its commitment to retrieving the soldier. The First Medical Battalion eventually deployed a MAUL ground drone which features a specialised armoured capsule for casualty transport.
The mission was finally successful on the eleventh attempt. Prior to this, two other drones were lost during the effort. The wounded soldier was ultimately secured within the protective capsule and transported to a safe location where he received necessary medical treatment.
Data from the mission shows the total route spanned 64 kilometres and the entire operation lasted six hours. The MAUL project was originally developed following a specific request from the medical battalion for a mobile solution to evacuate personnel in difficult conditions. The vehicle is built upon a quad bike chassis and utilises an internal combustion engine.
Its armoured capsule is designed to provide maximum protection while the vehicle itself is constructed to withstand significant physical impacts.
