UKRAINE, Aug. 20 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Vladyslav Polskyi, commander of the Code 9.2 drone assault unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who personally evacuated two severely wounded soldiers from one of the directions in Kharkiv oblast, said a decree published on the website of the President of Ukraine.

Two soldiers from the Code 9.2 unit were attacked by Russian Molniya drones. Both were severely injured and could not move on their own.

The unit sent a ground drone to evacuate them, but Russian troops hit it as well. The soldiers were left in the open, unable to reach safety on their own.

Polskyi reached the dangerous area, picked up the wounded soldiers, and took them to shelter.

Zelenskyy said that Polskyi received the title for his quick response in a combat situation.

“To avoid losing people’s lives and wasting time, Vladyslav decided to act and picked up the guys. An outstanding story. Great courage. An example of a commander’s action worth following,” the president said.

As Polskyi told the Ukrainian media outlet LB.ua in an interview, the rescued soldiers are currently in intensive care but are in stable condition. “They will probably require amputations,” he said.

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