Russian Drones Hamper Evacuation, Fuel Deadly Infections on Ukrainian Frontlines

Gas gangrene, a disease of World War I, is spreading again in Ukraine, where Russian drone strikes make it almost impossible to evacuate the wounded.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to The Telegraph.

This bacterial infection, which rapidly destroys muscles and tissues, was long considered almost eradicated in Europe. However, modern warfare has created conditions that allow it to spread again. Russian drone strikes render the evacuation of the wounded nearly impossible, and traditional wound treatment and antibiotic administration are often delayed for days, sometimes weeks.

Military medics are forced to work in underground bunkers and basements to avoid drone strikes, making it extremely difficult to provide timely medical care.

Patients with deep gunshot or blast wounds often go without proper care for days or weeks.

Under such conditions, Clostridium bacteria, which cause gas gangrene, multiply rapidly in oxygen-deprived tissues, causing severe pain, swelling, tissue discoloration, and even death if treatment is not started in time.

The situation is further complicated by the growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. Military medics are often unable to test the effectiveness of drugs in the field, and incorrect or delayed treatment increases the risk of developing resistant infections.

The Gaze reported earlier that the increasing activity of Russian drones significantly complicates the provision of emergency medical care to Ukrainian military personnel, making the “golden hour” principle almost unattainable.

The limited number of medical helicopters, slow ground transport logistics, and the constant threat of drone attacks make timely assistance virtually impossible.

In addition, medical facilities are becoming targets for the enemy, as evidenced by attacks on ambulance crews and humanitarian missions, violating international law and exacerbating the risks to the lives and health of the wounded.

Given the growing threat of drones to the evacuation of wounded soldiers, Ukrainian troops are devising new ways to extract fighters from under fire. A recent successful operation to rescue a soldier who had been trapped behind enemy lines for 33 days showed how important ground-based unmanned platforms have become.

After several unsuccessful attempts by humans, the 1st Medical Battalion used a remotely controlled MAUL all-terrain robot. The robot traveled about 40 miles along a difficult route through minefields and under drone fire, reached the wounded soldier, took him into an armored capsule, and returned to a safe zone, where medics provided first aid.

MAUL was originally created in the medical battalion and is now manufactured by the private company DevDroid. This approach overcomes the limitations that previously made evacuation impossible or too risky.

As The Gaze previously informed, Former Lithuanian Health Minister Aurimas Pečkauskas has been actively involved in supporting Ukrainian medics in the combat zone, combining volunteer work with his own professional experience.