--- title: "Rescue or Savings: Why UGVs Cannot Replace Armored Vehicles for Evacuating the Wounded" description: "Military journalist Yulia Kyryenko-Merynova warned that replacing armored vehicles with UGCs puts the lives of the wounded at risk. She stated that contracts for armor have been suspended, and there are not enough robots for safe evacuation." date: 2026-08-19T07:38:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/rescue-or-savings-why-ugvs-cannot-replace-armored-vehicles-for-evacuating-the-wounded tags: [ukraine-war, military-technology, evacuation, defense-industry, nrk] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Rescue or Savings: Why UGVs Cannot Replace Armored Vehicles for Evacuating the Wounded ![Unmanned robotic transport module on a dirt road near a field, illustrating the use of UGVs in military operations](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/19/nrk-vmesto-broni-evakuatsiya-ranenyh/nrk-vmesto-broni-evakuatsiya-ranenyh-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - UGCs cannot fully replace armored vehicles for evacuating living wounded - Contracts for purchasing armored vehicles have been suspended, creating a threat to soldiers - The cost of armored vehicles is paid off by one successful evacuation - Priority should be given to the simultaneous purchase of drones and armor In the context of the ongoing conflict, the issue of evacuating the wounded from the battlefield has become one of the most critical. Military journalist Yulia Kyryenko-Merynova, in her latest report, raised a problem that could cost the lives of many Ukrainian soldiers: the attempt to replace full-fledged armored vehicles with Unmanned Ground Complexes (UGCs). According to her, statistics from the last six months indicate a critical shortage of protected transport capable of safely delivering a living wounded soldier to a hospital. ### The Myth of Robot Sufficiency Kyryenko-Merynova sharply criticizes the approach where UGCs are considered a sufficient means for evacuating living people. In practice, as shown by the example of the CODE.92 company commander who rescued the wounded using a civilian pickup truck, soldiers are forced to risk their lives due to a lack of equipment. The journalist emphasizes: UGCs are ideal for delivering supplies or removing the bodies of the deceased, but armor is necessary to save living people. Without it, evacuation turns into a lottery where the chances of survival depend on luck rather than a state support system. ### The Economics of Rescue: Why Armor Pays Off One of the arguments against purchasing armored vehicles is often their high cost. However, Kyryenko-Merynova provides simple but convincing figures: the "Novator" armored vehicle costs 12 million hryvnias, and the "Varta" costs 20 million hryvnias. Meanwhile, the state pays 15 million hryvnias as compensation for a fallen soldier. This means that one successful evacuation on an armored vehicle fully justifies its purchase. Saving on equipment procurement could result in much greater financial and human losses. ### Contradictory Data The situation with equipment supplies remains complex and contradictory. On the one hand, the Minister of Defense and the President have announced plans to purchase 25,000, and then 50,000 UGCs. Contracts with manufacturers exist, and robots are gradually arriving at the front. However, according to the journalist's estimates, even 20,000 complexes by autumn will not cover the front's needs. On the other hand, armored vehicle manufacturers report that contracts for new armor have been suspended. The question arises: is there a reallocation of funds in favor of drones at the expense of soldier protection? Official sources have not yet given a clear answer to this question, leaving room for speculation. ### Priorities: Drones or Life? Kyryenko-Merynova notes that strengthening one industry should not come at the expense of another. Destroying Russian equipment with drones creates a feeling of victory, but this should not become an excuse for ignoring evacuation problems. The issue is not radical: "either drones or armor." It is about priorities. If the state declares the value of a soldier's life, this must be reflected not only in slogans but also in real purchases. Orders for ground and air drones must be made simultaneously with the purchase of armored vehicles, not instead of them. ### Technical Solutions and Personnel Issues It is important to note that testing of protection complexes for cars and UGCs has already been conducted. Andriy Lebedenko worked on the active protection project, but, according to the journalist, he is now being removed because he "did not fit the team." This creates additional risks for scaling protective solutions. While projects remain at the testing stage, soldiers continue to evacuate the wounded on unsafe vehicles. Time is working against the Ukrainian army, and every day of delay could cost lives. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [UGCs instead of armor: Journalist declares critical problem with evacuation of the wounded](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nrk-zamist-broni-zhurnalistka-zayavila-kritichnu-1787124112.html) - Основной источник информации о заявлении Юлии Кириенко-Мериновой. - [Even two at a time: The Armed Forces of Ukraine showed how robots help save the wounded](https://focus.ua/voennye-novosti/712889-evakuaciya-ranenyh-s-pomoshchyu-nrk-vsu-pokazali-yuvelirnuyu-rabotu) - Подтверждает использование НРК для эвакуации, но не опровергает необходимость брони. - [Syrskyi emphasized the development of robotic complexes for the evacuation of the wounded](https://zn.ua/war/syrskij-aktsentiroval-vnimanie-na-razvitii-robotizirovannykh-kompleksov-dlja-evakuatsii-ranenykh.html) - Подтверждает официальную позицию по развитию НРК. - [Syrskyi talked about the use of robots for the evacuation of the wounded](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4806616-syrskyi-rasskazal-o-prymenenyy-robotov-dlia-evakuatsyy-ranenykh) - Подтверждено по источнику korrespondent.net ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Can UGCs fully replace armored vehicles? **A:** According to experts, UGCs are suitable for delivering supplies and evacuating bodies, but they do not provide sufficient protection for living wounded. ### Q: Why have armor contracts been suspended? **A:** The journalist claims that funds have been redirected to purchase drones, although there are no official confirmations of this version. ### Q: Does the purchase of armored vehicles pay off? **A:** Yes, the cost of one armored vehicle (12-20 million UAH) is paid off by one successful evacuation, considering the payouts for the deceased (15 million UAH).