Ukrainian Soldier Rescued After 491 Days at Frontline, Amputated His Own Leg to Survive

A 49-year-old Ukrainian soldier who spent 491 days at a frontline position has been rescued in a daring operation involving a heavy-lift drone, after enduring months in hiding beneath a destroyed school despite suffering severe injuries.

Kostiantyn Vlasenko survived in a cramped shelter under a damaged school, facing constant surveillance by Russian drones, limited supplies and the threat of repeated attacks. After losing his left foot in a drone strike, he was forced to amputate his severely injured right leg himself using a knife and a brick.

“I put my foot on a brick, then took my knife,” Vlasenko told Ukrainian media, describing the ordeal. “Tears were streaming down my face, but I had to cut it off.”

Months of Hiding Under a Destroyed School

Vlasenko had been deployed to a frontline position known as Vertun, where he initially served alongside another Ukrainian soldier. Their shelter consisted of part of a concrete drainage pipe and a small bunker-like space.

At first, drones delivered food and essential supplies. However, the situation deteriorated as Russian surveillance drones made it increasingly dangerous to leave the shelter.

“If you didn’t see it, it saw you,” Vlasenko told Ukrainian media outlet Censor.net, describing the constant threat posed by the drones.

Several attempts to reach the soldiers ended in tragedy. According to reports, two soldiers sent to rescue them were killed before reaching their position. Two more died while attempting to recover their bodies.

Vlasenko subsequently asked his superiors not to send any more soldiers to rescue them, saying he did not want others to lose their lives trying to save him.

“I am ready to die alone, but I don’t want other soldiers to die because of me,” he said.

Forced to Amputate His Own Leg

Vlasenko’s ordeal became even more desperate after a drone strike destroyed his left foot. His right leg was also severely damaged, with the injury deteriorating until bone protruded through the skin.

With no access to medical treatment or surgical facilities, he eventually decided to amputate the injured leg himself.

Using a knife and a brick, he carried out the procedure in an attempt to save his life. He then used a tourniquet to control the bleeding.

He said he lost his left foot in April and amputated his right leg himself in May.

Despite his injuries, Vlasenko continued to survive in the shelter, relying on occasional drone deliveries of food, medicine and other necessities.

Russian Drones Continued to Threaten His Position

In mid-February, flooding forced Vlasenko and his fellow soldier, known by the call sign Basky, to move from their original shelter to a damaged school.

During one attempt to collect a package containing food and dry clothes, their position was spotted by a Russian surveillance drone. Another drone subsequently attacked them.

On another occasion, a Russian drone dropped a loudspeaker near their shelter. A recorded message played through it, warning the soldiers that their comrades would not rescue them.

Supplies were reportedly delivered every four to five days, including food, medicine, cigarettes and sweets. A birthday package even contained chocolate and better-quality cigarettes, offering a rare source of comfort amid the isolation.

Radio communications also helped Vlasenko maintain contact with others. His wife sent him a book by renowned author Stephen King, which he read to pass the time.

Rescued by a Heavy-Lift Drone

With conventional vehicles unable to reach his position safely, Ukrainian forces had to develop an alternative rescue plan. Two ground robots sent towards the location were reportedly destroyed.

In early October, rescuers prepared a new operation. A mobile phone containing an instructional video was delivered to Vlasenko, explaining how he could be evacuated using a drone.

On October 4, a large drone equipped with six propellers reached his position. Vlasenko secured himself to a harness attached to the aircraft, which lifted him approximately 70 metres into the air.

The drone then carried him around 15 kilometres across the battlefield to safety, bringing an end to his 491-day ordeal at the frontline.

Long Road to Recovery

Following his rescue, Vlasenko was taken to a military hospital in Kharkiv, where he underwent several surgical procedures. He is expected to receive prosthetic limbs as part of his rehabilitation.

Beyond the physical injuries, he faces the challenge of recovering from the psychological effects of his prolonged isolation and the horrors of war.

During his time at the frontline, he was unable to communicate with his daughter for an extended period.

“I haven’t spoken to my little girl for a long time. Perhaps she will understand, because her father was at war,” he said.

Vlasenko’s rescue highlights the growing role of drones in battlefield logistics and evacuation, while underscoring the extreme conditions faced by soldiers trapped in frontline positions during the Russia-Ukraine war.