Wounded Ukrainian soldier trapped in a minefield ringed by Russian drones is airlifted to safety by a BOMBER drone

The infantryman, callsign 'Kostya', clipped himself into a harness dropped to him and told comrades: 'That's it, we can take off.' Ukraine's 92nd Assault Brigade says Monday's mission was the first drone airlift of a wounded soldier in history. Gurzuf Defence's six-rotor Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 was flown in because landmines and Russian kamikaze drones made a ground rescue impossible. Kostya is now stable and in rehabilitation.

Kostya, of the 30th Separate Mechanised Brigade, was reportedly flown some 18km to safety.

A fleet of smaller drones escorted the hexacopter, which can reportedly lift 90kg.

Squad leader 'Napalm' hailed it as 'an historic event — at the very least for our unit'.