The “Golden Hour” of Medical Aid Disappears Amid Russian Drone Attacks
Russian drone attacks on medical teams and evacuation routes are forcing Ukrainian soldiers to wait for help in mortal danger.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to The New York Times.
The idea of the “golden hour,” when a wounded soldier must be transported to a medical facility within one hour to save his life, is undergoing serious changes during the war in Ukraine.
The current war in Ukraine, with its new technologies, has completely overturned these principles. Due to the high activity of Russian drones, the evacuation of the wounded is often delayed for a day or more.
Medical professionals report that evacuation teams and medical stations are becoming priority targets for the enemy, and soldiers are forced to wait in trenches and bunkers in dangerous conditions, often leading to complications or deaths.
Military and humanitarian experts say that Ukraine's medical evacuation system currently does not meet modern warfare requirements.
Due to the limited number of medical helicopters, slow ground transport logistics, and the high risk of drone attacks, rapid assistance is often impossible. Soldiers arrive at stabilization points with critical injuries that could previously have been saved, and the risk of losing limbs or life has increased significantly.
Experts note that changes on the battlefield reflect not only technological challenges, but also the enemy's refusal to comply with international law regarding medical personnel.
For example, on November 4, Russian occupation forces launched a targeted strike with two FPV drones on an ambulance brigade from Nikopol that was transporting a patient to the hospital.
Two paramedics and the driver were injured in the attack. All were diagnosed with acoustic trauma. Nevertheless, they returned to work in the morning.
As The Gaze informed earlier, on October 14, Russian troops shelled a UN humanitarian mission in the Bilozerska community of the Kherson region, causing significant material damage.
Read more on The Gaze: What are the Goals of Russian State Terrorism Against Ukrainians?