After losing an entrenched defensive position to a russian infantry assault group, Ukrainian forces deployed three drone operator teams to reclaim the trench. A commander of the drone unit, who witnessed the situation unfold, told the details to the press service of the Air Assault Forces Command.
Callsign Sheriff, the commander, said once the unmanned aerial vehicles approached the captured position, they noticed a captive Ukrainian soldier. The decision was to eliminate the enemy personnel and help their comrade to escape.
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The drones were carrying droppable grenades, which were released upon the russian infantry. Having suffered casualties and being wounded, the russian assault group retreated.
While the first part of the mission went smoothly, the escape part was challenging. The Ukrainian soldier managed to untie the ropes binding his body but there was a communication issue, how to convey to the ally that the drone hovering above him was not hostile, although it had a grenade bound to it.
"It's important that he oriented himself, that he was in no threat, that there's no enemy around anymore, and that he should start getting out of there," Sheriff says.
With no opportunity to get in touch, all the "communication" was done through gestures and light signals:
"The pilot of the UAV, Kevin, quickly improvised and started flashing the lights; and our captive, too, did not get confused, figured out that it's allied, and understood that there's a way to somehow communicate and solve the situation."
The drone guided him along the trench but at some point, the Ukrainian soldier encountered a russian who had stayed. The UAV utilized its remaining grenade to launch a strike. Apparently, Sheriff noted, the enemy was wounded but most importantly, it did not attempt anything further.
The Ukrainian soldier successfully continued the journey until he reached a safe place where he was met by an allied group to pick him up.
On a note from Defense Express, this is not the first time a UAV has acted as a guide for infantry. Previously, there was an episode when a Ukrainian drone saved the life of a surrendered russian soldier who was fired at by his comrades. Also, in late December 2023, there were multiple reports of russian military personnel sabotaging their commanders' orders and surrendering on the southern front of the russo-Ukrainian war.
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