Azov Brigade Drones Deliver Blood to Critically Wounded Soldier at Front Line

Soldiers of the Azov Brigade saved the life of a seriously wounded comrade-in-arms by delivering blood for transfusion directly into the trench using drones.

Footage of the operation was released by the brigade’s press service.

“The soldier sustained a severe shrapnel wound to the neck. Heavy blood loss, a difficult evacuation, and minimal chances of survival led doctors to make a radical decision,” Azov stated.

The drone delivered blood components to the front line and dropped them into the trenches, allowing the wounded serviceman to receive a transfusion in time.

pic.twitter.com/MXHEKtjm13

— Karna La Vera (@Karna13377) February 21, 2025

“Due to constant enemy surveillance, it was impossible to organize evacuation on foot. Unmanned systems in this situation were a faster, safer and more effective solution,” ‘Temniy,’ the chief medical officer of the battalion told Militarnyi.

The drones delivered all the necessary supplies: transfusion systems, an intraosseous device, warming devices, calcium, painkillers, antibiotics, etc.

“The transfusion of blood components was performed by a platoon medic who was wounded himself. He was assisted by an infantryman with upper limb amputations,” added ‘Temnyi’.

Conducting the operation right in the trenches was a key factor in the fighter’s survival, as he was in serious condition at the position for about 10 hours from the moment he was wounded until evacuation. The brigade explained that the heavily wounded soldier was evacuated from his position, after which doctors stabilized his condition. Now doctors are fighting for his life.

Blood transfusion at the front line

Blood transfusions by combat medics are an achievement of the Ukrainian military and volunteers who defended this right, as only medical doctors were allowed to perform this operation in Ukraine until 2023. The Ministry of Health has expanded the special training program on transfusion therapy by introducing a course that enables combat medics to acquire essential transfusion skills.

Today, not only people with medical education can transfuse blood, but also military personnel who have undergone appropriate training. This gives them the right to provide critical assistance to soldiers with heavy blood loss at the front line and during evacuation before they arrive at a stabilization center or hospital.

Azov Brigade was one of the first to start transfusing blood during evacuation:

“Back in 2019, Azov introduced the use of blood into the training program for combat medics, successfully used this knowledge for the first time during the defense of Mariupol, and now, in the battles in the Kreminna forests, medics of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine use tens of liters of blood every month, saving the lives of soldiers,” the brigade added.