Ukraine's 475th Regiment Deploys StarGate Drone for Aerial Medevac

Ukrainian military units have increasingly turned to unmanned aerial systems for battlefield logistics, a shift that has accelerated in recent months as ground routes become more hazardous.

Fighters from the 475th Separate Assault Regiment, known as CODE 9.2, used a StarGate drone to rescue two injured soldiers from the front line over the past week.

The two casualties, identified as 25-year-old Yevhen and 24-year-old Artem, suffered severe limb injuries while positioned in the grey zone, roughly 5 km from the Russian border.

The regiment stated that ground evacuation was impossible due to difficult terrain, water obstacles, and the constant threat of enemy FPV drones, making aerial extraction the only viable option.

Operations required a week of preparation in coordination with SkyFall, the drone's manufacturer, and involved fire support from other Ukrainian defense units.

During one mission, the StarGate drone traveled nearly 30 km to reach the soldier and the same distance back with the casualty on board.

Russian forces actively deployed electronic warfare systems to suppress satellite navigation signals during the extraction.

The drone relied on an AI-based navigation system to maintain its course and complete the mission despite the loss of GPS signals.

Oleksandr Nastenko, commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment, said the experience will help establish a dedicated medical aviation unit within the regiment.

Nastenko explained that the new unit will specialize in evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield by air.

The StarGate drone has a range of up to 30 km and can carry a payload of up to 150 kg.

For casualty evacuation, the aircraft is fitted with a dedicated medical capsule containing a stretcher, and it operates at a maximum speed of 105 km/h.