The Remarkable Story of Konstantin Vlasenko
President Volodymyr Zelensky has bestowed the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Konstantin Vlasenko, a soldier serving in the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Konstantin Ostrogski. Vlasenko remarkably held his ground for 491 days, spending 232 of those days alone while seriously wounded. His defense post, known as “Vertun,” was maintained from June 3, 2025, until February 15, 2026, when it was destroyed by Russian drones and artillery. During the retreat following the position's destruction, Vlasenko sustained severe gunshot wounds to both legs, and one of his comrades went missing in action.
After finding shelter near a school, Vlasenko applied his own medical care, despite the evacuation point being destroyed by enemy forces before rescue could arrive. The resulting gangrene forced him to lose one foot, and he was compelled to amputate the other himself. Even under these dire conditions, he continued to covertly observe enemy movements and relay vital intelligence until his eventual evacuation.
Coordinated Evacuation Effort
On October 4, 2026, Vlasenko was successfully evacuated through a combined operation involving:
- The 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade
- The 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko
- The 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great
The evacuation mission required months of preparation and employed a heavy multifunctional hexacopter, the "Ayudag-6," which had been retrofitted by defenders of the 92nd Assault Brigade. The drone’s technical setup was carried out by Yuriy Gaponuk and Dmytro Melnychyn. On the ground, Senior Soldier Vasyl Prokopivnyuk led the operation, while Senior Soldier Serhiy Stoyan piloted the hexacopter. The entire mission lasted just over an hour, with Soldier Ruslan Chernov providing immediate medical aid to Vlasenko upon extraction.
In recognition of his role, President Zelensky awarded Senior Soldier Serhiy Stoyan the "For Saved Life" medal. Nominations for honors for other participants in the evacuation are already underway. This case highlights the critical role that unmanned evacuation drones are playing in Ukraine, offering life-saving options for severely wounded soldiers in situations where traditional ground evacuations are impossible. Earlier this year, Ukrainian forces also conducted the world’s first medical evacuation using a heavy drone and tested UAVs capable of returning with wounded personnel even under hostile electronic warfare conditions.
Konstantin Vlasenko’s story stands as a powerful testament to the courage and resilience of Ukraine’s armed forces, who persist in fulfilling their duties despite extreme adversity. The recognition of Vlasenko and those involved in the evacuation underscores the growing importance of medical evacuation innovations alongside combat achievements. Advancements in drone technology for casualty extraction are poised to significantly improve survival rates for injured soldiers while reducing risks to medical teams operating in combat zones.
Vlasenko's extraordinary story highlights not only personal bravery but also the advancements in military logistics, as seen in Ukraine's recent success with the world's first heavy medical drone evacuation, which operates effectively without GPS. This innovative approach underscores the evolving strategies employed by Ukrainian forces to ensure the safety and rescue of their soldiers in challenging conditions.