Saskatoon company donates drones to deliver medical supplies to Ukainians in Russian-occupied cities
CBC
Saskatoon-based company Draganfly is donating drones to a non-profit that helps wounded soldiers and civilians in Ukraine.
Before the Russian-Ukrainian war began, Revived Soldiers Ukraine (RSU) would bring Ukrainian wounded soldiers to the U.S. for medical care and cover medical bills. RSU has operated for six and a half years, with bases in Florida and Nevada.
It also has a rehabilitation centre in Ukraine called Next Step Ukraine, but the centre was recently destroyed by Russians.
"When the war started, we would start to help medical facilities, the hospitals and also purchase ambulances and tried to help evacuate people," said RSU chief Iryna Discipio.
One of the drones donated by Draganfly will deliver medical supplies to Russian occupied territories in Ukraine, such as the destroyed city of Mariupol. The drone can fly for 40 minutes before being recharged.
"[Russians] wouldn't let civilians come out of the city and a lot of civilians got trapped in the basement of the buildings and the hospitals basements. So we would like to see if we can use those drones to deliver much needed medical aid to those locations," said Discipio.
The other two drones will be used for rescue purposes.
"So we would try to find people who were trapped in places and try to evacuate them."
Discipio said Russians are shooting Ukrainians who try to escape Mariupol. She said the three drones will be delivered to Ukraine within the next week and a half, and personnel with drone experience will be trained to use them.
Discipio said insulin, antibiotics and painkillers are most needed, especially by hospitals conducting surgeries.
"The people who are getting shot … it's not just bullet wounds, it's also shrapnel. So people would get infected. And it's really, really hard to deal with infection unless we have antibiotics. So those necessary things are really needed right now."
Discipio was recently awarded the Order of Princess Olga by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for her work with helping wounded soldiers. She is originally from Irpin, Ukraine, which she said is currently occupied by Russians.
"That's devastating. It's so sad to see my city been destroyed. The Russians kept shooting every day and bombing houses, buildings, hospitals. Not even governmental, but civilian structures. Businesses, shopping centres, everything."
Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, said the company is very happy to help RSU's efforts in Ukraine.
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