Drones that hurt and save lives: the double face of war in Ukraine

Reporter and journalist María Senovilla, a contributor to Atalayar, analysed on Onda Madrid's programme ‘De cara al mundo’ how Ukrainian doctors are transporting blood to the front line using drones.

She also stressed the importance of maintaining the country's electricity grid in the face of the imminent arrival of winter and temperatures that could reach as low as -20 degrees Celsius.

María, in the midst of an increasingly technological and brutal war, how did this initiative by Ukrainian combat doctors to use drones to send blood to the trenches come about, and what specific need does it seek to address on the battlefield?

In Ukraine, combat medics began using drones to transport blood directly to the trenches because medical evacuation teams have become direct targets of the Russian army. Drones allow wounded soldiers to receive transfusions without being evacuated, which is essential when extraction from the front line is virtually impossible.

Drones have been at the forefront of the war from the beginning, but now they are also at the forefront of medical care. Could you explain how this technology has transformed both military strategy and the chances of survival for wounded soldiers?

Drones have completely redefined the war in Ukraine. They are both a threat and a vital tool. They have made it impossible to approach the front line with vehicles, because any movement is detected and attacked, but they have also allowed medical logistics and supplies to reach inaccessible places. In this context, the same devices that cause destruction are serving to save lives.

Before this technological escalation, journalists and doctors could get relatively close to the front line. How has that changed and what does it mean today to move around areas such as Pokrovsk or Donetsk?

Before, we could drive less than a kilometre from the trenches and walk a short distance. Now, in areas such as Pokrovsk, you have to walk more than 15 kilometres. Any vehicle that gets closer than that is intercepted and bombed by drones. The risk has completely changed the way we work and assist the wounded.

You mentioned that the Russians deliberately attack medical evacuation teams. Could you explain how these tactics work and why they constitute such a serious violation of international humanitarian law?

The Russians have made medical evacuation a deliberate target. They place attack drones near the wounded, waiting for the arrival of medical teams. When they try to rescue the soldiers, they launch a second attack, known as a ‘double tap’. This practice is prohibited under international law because medical teams enjoy special protection. Attacking them is a war crime.

Given this dangerous situation, how have Ukrainian doctors managed to develop such an innovative method as video-call-guided transfusions and cargo drones? What kind of technology do they use to make this possible?

They have developed an extraordinarily ingenious system. They use large cargo drones, known as ‘vampire drones’, capable of carrying up to 15 kilograms. They send blood bags equipped with special heaters, because the blood must be kept at a certain temperature. Thanks to a satellite internet connection, doctors guide the injured person's companions via video call to perform the transfusion correctly. In this way, even under enemy fire, they are managing to save lives.

This type of medical and technological creativity has been recognised outside Ukraine. What impact has this system had and what does this international recognition symbolise in the midst of such a devastating war?

A few months ago, Germany awarded the prize for best combat doctor in Europe to a Ukrainian professional from the Azov brigade, a pioneer in this system of drone-assisted transfusions. It is a recognition not only of his innovation, but also of the spirit of resistance of the doctors who work just a few metres from the combat zone, saving lives in almost impossible conditions.

Beyond the military front, Ukraine is suffering a severe energy crisis. Could you describe how Russian bombing is affecting the civilian population and the extent of this attack on the electrical infrastructure?

Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have left about 60% of the country's electricity grid damaged. Many regions are without electricity, heating and communication. The authorities have had to set up ‘invincibility points’, spaces where people can warm up, charge their phones or receive basic food supplies. These are emergency measures in the face of a winter that promises to be devastating.

In this context of massive blackouts and extreme temperatures, how are Ukrainians adapting to survive the winter, and what role does civil resilience play in the face of this new Russian offensive?

The population is doing its best to resist. Many households use generators, small charging stations, or gas stoves. But when temperatures drop below zero, it will be very difficult to maintain a normal life. Russia wants to make cities uninhabitable, and that is clearly an attack on civilians. Even so, people are carrying on, helping each other as neighbours and remaining determined not to give up.

Finally, after seeing so much suffering and resistance up close, what image do you have of Ukraine at this moment and what do you hope the world will understand about what is happening there?

The image is that of a country fighting not only for its territory, but for its dignity and its right to exist. I have seen immense courage in doctors, soldiers and civilians. Despite the pain and the cold, Ukraine remains standing. Hopefully, the world will understand that this resistance is not only military, but deeply human.