Ukrainian soldier survived more than a year alone on the frontline, cutting off his OWN leg, before a drone rescued him

Kostiantyn Vlasenko, 49, of the 30th Mechanised Brigade, was stranded near Kupiansk in Kharkiv from June last year until October 4. His comrade Baski was killed by a Russian drone on February 16, his 50th birthday. Wounded, Vlasenko crawled into a cast-iron furnace and stayed there for eight months. Drones kept him alive with food, cigarettes and a Stephen King novel from his wife Tetyana.

His frostbitten left foot rotted off; he cut through his right leg with a knife.

'Tears were flowing, but I had to cut,' Vlasenko said.

Told by Russians to surrender, he replied: 'Russian warship, go f*** yourself!'