The widespread use of drones on the frontline has radically altered the nature of modern battlefield wounds, with most of them now caused by shrapnel.

Source: Kostiantyn Humeniuk, chief surgeon of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Colonel of the Medical Service at a press conference at Ukrinform, a Ukrainian news agency

Quote: "As of today, around 81.3% of all wounds are caused by shrapnel, while only about 18.7% are gunshot wounds.

Wounds are almost always multiple, affecting several anatomical areas – the abdomen, chest, limbs and head. It is now extremely rare to see isolated wounds to a single body part."

Details: He added that lower limbs are the most commonly injured area.

The body armour used by Ukraine's defence forces remains reliable, Humeniuk said, though it does have weak spots – particularly at the sides, above the plate and below it.

He noted that during the Anti-Terrorist Operation and Joint Forces Operation [the combat action against Russian military forces and pro-Russian separatists in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts from 2014], military surgeons had not observed such a high proportion of shrapnel-related injuries.

Quote: "The nature of modern combat wounds has changed completely. The extensive tissue damage we now encounter is a direct result of the use of contemporary drones and demonstrates just how severe today's battlefield wounds are."

Background: It was reported earlier about a pair of combat medics who are helping to ease the evacuation of wounded soldiers.

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