‘I Thought I Wouldn’t Make It’: Elderly Woman Rescued by Ukrainian Ground Drone

Footage released by Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps shows an elderly woman being rescued by a ground drone after her village was damaged.

Ukrainian forces located the woman using an aerial drone and then dispatched an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to reach her. As the robot approached, it displayed the words: “grandma, sit down” — a simple but vital instruction.

“I thought I wouldn’t make it and didn’t have the strength.”
— Antonina Horuzha, speaking to BBC journalist Jessica Parker

The woman, identified as Antonina Horuzha, was found in a damaged village. The use of ground drones for such operations marks a notable advancement in battlefield robotics. While these UGVs have been primarily used for supplying soldiers or conducting rescue missions on Ukraine’s frontlines, this latest incident highlights their growing role in safeguarding civilians as well.