The threat of Russian drones is keeping Ukrainian troops on the front lines for extended periods of time and forcing the army to rethink how it provides medical care to soldiers who cannot easily leave.
For one Ukrainian military unit specialized in the front line evacuation of victimsThe lesson is that battlefield medicine must now do more than stabilize and extract the wounded.
Soldiers in combat zones need access to outpatient care, diagnostics, specialist consultations and treatment for both chronic and acute diseases for extended periods without being forced to leave the battlefield every time they need medical attention, Ukraine’s 1st Separate Medical Battalion told Business Insider.
A battalion spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said in translated remarks modern combat medicine is developing in two main directions: the use of machines to replace troops and evacuate victims where possible and bringing high-quality medical care closer to the troops at the front.
The front lines have evolved into what Ukrainian officials and soldiers describe as one “death zone.” Drones are constantly watching and can do that focus on anything that movesincluding soldiers and armored vehicles, with precision. The threat from the air has made it difficult and time-consuming to move even over short distances.
The killing zone varies in size and stretches for miles on both sides of the contact line, Ukrainian officials and soldiers say it expands as more drones flood the battlefield.
The battalion spokesman said the growing number of drones is forcing the unit to change its approach to casualty evacuation, stabilization sites and forward surgical teams.
The unit must become more mobile and less visible and move faster between locations, the spokesperson said.
Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly using ground robots to evacuate victims. Frédéric Petry/Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect
Ground robotsare now increasingly used for casualty evacuation, reflecting a growing trend in the Ukrainian military of machines replacing soldiers for dangerous missions such as logistics.
The battalion spokesman said access to advanced medical equipment is also critical, although the most advanced equipment is not always the most useful. Any system put forward must be suitable for rugged frontline conditions, meaning it must be mobile, autonomous, easy to maintain and have sufficient support chains.
In some cases, a reliable, self-sufficient device can be more valuable to the unit than a more advanced system not designed for the battlefield, the spokesperson said.
More generally, heavy drone saturation in Ukraine has upended long-standing assumptions about caring for combat victims.
For example, the delayed evacuation of victims is in stark contrast to the model that U.S. and allied forces relied on in the post-September 11 wars, when U.S. and coalition forces were able to leverage their strengths air superiority of wounded soldiers by helicopter to large, fully equipped bases.
Western military leaders are increasingly warning that this may not be the case these same benefits in a future war against an opponent almost equal to Russia.
In Ukraine, drones have made it difficult to provide medical care to wounded soldiers in the country “golden hour”, the first 60 minutes after a serious injury, when prompt treatment can be critical to survival.
NATO is increasingly aware that it may face similar challenges and has been looking into this Western medical and defense industries for technology that can save lives in a drone-ridden environment.
