How Ukrainian soldiers use robots to evacuate wounded colleagues

A Ukrainian serviceman, 27, with call sign Crop from the 5th Separate Assault Brigade, controls an unmanned ground vehicle during a demonstration of its capabilities on a training ground at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine on August 11, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [AFP]

When Magician, a Ukrainian serviceman, was remotely steering a robot hauling a wounded soldier away from the front line towards safety, the worst-case scenario played out on his monitor.

The 27-year-old, who asked AFP to identify him by his call sign in line with military protocol, was navigating the bot on a journey with life-or-death stakes when grey smoke appeared on his control screen. His machine had hit a mine.