Evacuation is “force majeure that no one is ready for” in most Ukrainian units, and robots are too slow to fix it, commander says

Ukrainian officer Tetiana Chornovol has criticized the lack of systematic evacuation procedures within her country's Armed Forces, stating that evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield still feels like an act of force majeure in most units. The commander of a platoon of anti-tank guided missile systems has called for reform, highlighting the chaotic and improvised nature of evacuations that occur due to a lack of dedicated groups and specialized armored transport.

Chornovol argues that ground robots are too slow to fix the problem, and notes that the absence of reliable evacuation methods shapes soldiers' fighting strategies. She emphasizes the psychological impact of knowing rescue is imminent, stating it significantly improves morale on the frontlines. Chornovol has witnessed the dire consequences of inadequate evacuation, recounting a case where her crew faced multiple casualties due to ineffective rescue attempts.

She advocates for the establishment of dedicated evacuation units within brigades, complete with specialized drivers, medics, pilots, electronic warfare experts, and even drone hunters. Chornovol believes that such a system would enhance the psychological well-being of soldiers, as well as improve the efficiency of evacuation operations.