Ukraine's 1st Medical Battalion reveals that over 50% of evacuation missions using Maul UGV are successful

Over half of the missions carried out by soldiers from the 1st Separate Medical Battalion (MedBat) using the Ukrainian Maul unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) were successful. On average, one ground robot saves the lives of nearly two soldiers.

Source: a report by the 1st Separate Medical Battalion

Details: According to the unit, the Maul UGV was first used in combat conditions in January 2025, and by October 2025, the ground robot had carried out its first successful evacuation of a wounded soldier.

As of late September 2026, soldiers from the 1st Separate Medbat have carried out "hundreds of missions" using the Maul, 51.9% of which were successful. The unit explained that operations are considered successful when a wounded soldier is transferred to subsequent stages of evacuation.

Quote: "On average, during its lifespan, one Maul evacuates 1.92 wounded soldiers. However, practice shows that a Maul can survive anywhere from 20 minutes to 12 successful missions. Factors affecting mission outcomes include preparation time, situational awareness, coordination with adjacent units, weather conditions and enemy activity in the sector. In the vast majority of missions, time of day was not a decisive factor."

Details: Meanwhile, an unsuccessful mission does not necessarily mean the death of a soldier on the frontline. Specifically, in more than half of the incomplete operations, the reason was the vehicle returning without a casualty and the remainder involved the loss of the vehicle prior to loading.

Quote: "Unfortunately, in 4.6% of all missions, the UGV was destroyed with a casualty on board."

Details: To increase mission success rates, the 1st Medbat prioritises operations based on information regarding circumstances and severity of wounds, as well as logistical threats and capabilities. The technical condition of the UGV is also checked before operations, and more than 10 military personnel are involved in executing each mission.

Quote: "An important component of the mission team is the quick response group, which we call the 'lively group' – these are service members involved in delivering the Maul to the launch point, inspecting its technical condition and performing maintenance. After a mission is completed, they also retrieve the vehicle, sanitise it and inspect it for damage."

For reference: The Maul UGV is an ATV-based ground robotic system, equipped with a special armoured capsule for transporting a wounded person. It features an internal combustion engine, suspension, an armoured capsule and electronic warfare equipment.

The robot's average speed during evacuations is 30-40 kilometers per hour, and the maximum distance covered by the Maul during a single mission reached 110 km.

Background:

• Ukrainska Pravda reported that the Come Back Alive Foundation announced the launch of the RoboBro project to purchase ground evacuation robotic complexes. The project's goal is to save at least 1,000 Ukrainian military lives using UGVs. Ukrainian ground robots, including the Maul, will be purchased as part of the project.
• Ukrainska Pravda detailed how the 1st Medical Battalion uses UGVs for evacuations in the article: Two wounded Ukrainian soldiers rescued from right under Russians' noses: the heroic exploits of the Maul robot and the 1st Medical Battalion.

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