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3 years after releasing "Flowers," Miley Cyrus sang new lyrics at the Hollywood Bowl. Here are the song's rumored Liam Hemsworth references.

19 October 2026 at 21:45
Miley cyrus at Hollywood Bowl stitched with her and Liam.
Miley Cyrus ad-libbed lyrics for her hit single "Flowers" after selling out the Hollywood Bowl.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation, Presley Ann/WireImage via Getty Images

  • Miley Cyrus changed the lyrics to her hit song "Flowers" after selling out the Hollywood Bowl.
  • She held a two-night run at the venue in October, her first full solo concert in four years.
  • Some fans say "Flowers," released in early 2023, is a diss track to her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.

After selling out a two-night residency at the Hollywood Bowl in October, Miley Cyrus changed the lyrics of an integral part of her hit song, "Flowers."

She ad-libbed about selling out the iconic venue before the chorus: "Started to cry, but then remembered I sold out the Hollywood Bowl!"

She added similar lyrics to "Flowers" in 2024 when she performed it after winning her first Grammy.

The ad-lib now seems to be a way for Cyrus to celebrate her wins, and fans have suggested since its release in 2023 that the song was written as a diss track against her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth. The two married in 2018 and divorced a year later.

Representatives for Hemsworth did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Here are the Easter eggs you may have missed in "Flowers."

Miley Cyrus released her single "Flowers" in 2023 — and many fans think the song takes aim at her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth.
Miley Cyrus in the YouTube video for "Flowers."
Fans think "Flowers" is a dig at Hemsworth.

Miley Cyrus/YouTube

As Business Insider previously reported, Cyrus and Hemsworth met on the set of "The Last Song," which was released in 2010, and dated on and off for several years. The couple married in 2018 and divorced a year later. The split was finalized in January 2020.

While Cyrus hasn't confirmed that "Flowers" is about her relationship with Hemsworth, the single's release date, lyrics, and other hidden details offer a few clues to the song's meaning.

The song was released on Liam Hemsworth's birthday.
Liam Hemsworth Miley Cyrus
Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus attended the "Avengers: Endgame" premiere.

VALERIE MACON / Getty Images

The buzz around "Flowers" began when fans noticed its release date.

The single dropped on January 13 — Hemsworth's 33rd birthday — a detail that was not lost on Cyrus' fans. 

 

Miley’s telling the world she can love herself better ON LIAM’S BIRTHDAY?! she definitely didn’t lie when she said she’s got nerve https://t.co/Pp7fi5yuqa

— 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 (@mileywrld) January 1, 2023

"She definitely didn't lie when she said she's got nerve," one user tweeted. 

Many fans think "Flowers" resembles Bruno Mars' song, "When I Was Your Man."
miley cyrus liam hemsworth

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

In "When I Was Your Man," Mars sings that he wishes he "bought you flowers, and held your hand."

Although Mars isn't credited as a songwriter on "Flowers," Cyrus sings "I can buy myself flowers," and "I can hold my own hand" in a similar tune to Mars' hit. 

According to Billboard, some fans have speculated that Hemsworth dedicated Mars' song to Cyrus during their first engagement — though those theories are unconfirmed.

The song's opening verse could refer to the 2018 Woolsey Fire.
miley cyrus liam hemsworth

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

"We were good, we were gold/ Kind of dream that can't be sold/ We were right till we weren't/ Built a home and watched it burn," Cyrus sings in the opening verse. 

According to Us Weekly, the fire metaphor could be referring to the home Cyrus shared with Hemsworth, which burned down during the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

It’s been a heartbreaking few days. This is what’s left of my house. Love. Many people in Malibu and surrounding areas in California have lost their homes also and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by these fires. To help: https://t.co/YQCE1cLaej & @happyhippiefdn https://t.co/vtLFytFmNw

— Liam Hemsworth (@LiamHemsworth) November 13, 2018

Cyrus has said that the loss of the couple's Malibu home is partially what led her and Hemsworth to get married. 

Some fans have drawn comparisons between a clip from the song's music video and a past red-carpet moment.
liam hemsworth miley cyrus

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

In 2019, while attending the Vanity Fair Oscars party, an Access Hollywood reporter asked Cyrus and Hemsworth what a dance number would look like between the couple.

WAIT A MINUTE https://t.co/YA76DVsz7T

— out of context hannah montana (@OCHannahMontana) January 4, 2023

When Cyrus began dancing on Hemsworth, her then-husband, he shut it down, saying, "We're not doing this. Not on the carpet."

One Twitter user put that video side by side with a promotional clip Cyrus posted on the platform, in which she appears to do a similar dance move — while the lyrics "I can love me better" play in the background.

In October 2026, Cyrus changed the lyrics to "Flowers" and performed it at the Hollywood Bowl.
A woman performs at a concert.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Miley Cyrus performs onstage at Bass Persuades Live at Hollywood Bowl on October 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation

After selling out shows at the Hollywood Bowl in October 2026, Cyrus changed the pre-chorus lyrics to "Flowers."

In the original version, Cyrus sings: "I didn't wanna leave you/I didn't wanna fight/Started to cry, but then remembered I," before belting out the chorus.

This past weekend, however, Cyrus changed that to: "I didn't wanna leave you (but I had to)/I didn't wanna fight (but we did)/Started to cry, but then remembered I sold out the Hollywood Bowl."

Cyrus has ad-libbed her hit single before: At the 2024 Grammys, she sang, "Started to cry, but then remembered I just won my first Grammy!"

Fans took to social media to applaud Cyrus' lyric change, with one YouTube commenter saying they "love how she's filling it in with different achievements."

Cyrus also paid tribute to Dolly Parton, her late godmother, during the concert, breaking down in tears as she recalled memories of Parton. Cyrus then performed Parton's hit song "Jolene."

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in January 2023 and was most recently updated in October 2026.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Kylie Jenner wore the most expensive Fantasy Bra in Victoria's Secret history. See the bras that came before it.

Kylie Jenner wearing white feathered wings and silver lingerie walks on a blue-lit stage.
Kylie Jenner at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2026.

Michael Buckner/WWD via Getty Images

  • The Fantasy Bra was a staple of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show before it was canceled in 2019.
  • The diamond-encrusted bra was always extravagant and worn by a top model at the VS Fashion Show.
  • Kylie Jenner brought it back in 2026, modeling the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever created.

Victoria's Secret brought some extra sparkle to its runway on Sunday night.

The brand's annual fashion show, which returned in 2024 after being canceled five years earlier, was held in Los Angeles, with models including Adriana Lima and Barbara Palvin donning their wings for the occasion.

Since making its comeback, the fashion show has been more than a spectacle for Victoria's Secret. It's also been a way to attract a new generation of shoppers by leaning into nostalgia. Elizabeth Preis, Victoria's Secret's chief marketing officer, previously told Fast Company that the show was about "brand consideration for the audience that doesn't currently shop with us."

This year, the brand ramped up its social media promotion and made 17 times as many runway items available to purchase, Barron's reported.

The 2026 show also brought back a symbol of Victoria's Secret's heyday: the Fantasy Bra, an elaborate piece of lingerie often worth millions that hadn't appeared on the runway since 2018.

Kylie Jenner modeled the bra for its comeback. Designed by Jacob & Co., it's the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever created at $50 million.

Take a look back at other Fantasy Bras Victoria's Secret has designed over the years.

The Fantasy Bra was first introduced by Victoria's Secret in 1996 via a massive New York City billboard.
A five-story advertisement showing Claudia Schiffer wearing the first Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 1996.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Worn by Claudia Schiffer, the diamond-encrusted lingerie was dubbed the "Million Dollar Miracle Bra."

It was modeled for the Victoria's Secret catalog and advertisements, such as the massive one displayed in New York City.

Tyra Banks wore the next one in 1997.
Tyra Banks models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 1997.
Tyra Banks models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 1997.

Ron Galella/Getty Images

The "Diamond Dream Bra" was much more understated than the original. It was crafted from white satin, lined with diamonds, and had one 42-carat teardrop gem hanging from its center.

Though the bra cost $3 million, it was never modeled on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway — only by Banks at a private event held later.

Gisele Bündchen modeled the "Red Hot Fantasy Bra" in 2000.
Gisele Bündchen models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2000.
Gisele Bündchen models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2000.

DMIPhoto/Stringer/Getty Images

The ruby-covered bra and matching panties modeled by Bündchen for a catalog were the most expensive lingerie set created by Victoria's Secret at the time, costing $15 million when they were designed.

Heidi Klum sparkled in 2001 when she donned a less colorful but equally extravagant version of the garment.
Heidi Klum models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2001.
Heidi Klum models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2001.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Called the "Heavenly Star Fantasy Bra," the sparkling white piece was decorated with 1,200 Sri Lankan pink sapphires, 2,300 round white diamonds arranged in a wave pattern, and a 90-carat diamond at the center.

It cost $12.5 million on its own, making it the most expensive bra in the world at the time, according to the Guinness World Records. It was also the first Fantasy Bra modeled during a televised Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Karolína Kurková was chosen to debut the 2002 "Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra."
Karolina Kurkova models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2002.
Karolina Kurkova models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2002.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The $10 million piece had a floral theme, with 1,150 rubies in the shape of roses, 1,600 emeralds arranged like leaves, and diamonds forming smaller flowers around them.

Like its predecessor, this Fantasy Bra also featured a massive diamond in its center — this one a 60-carat Mouawad Mondera stone.

Klum returned in 2003 with an $11 million bra that took 370 hours to make.
Heidi Klum models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2003.
Heidi Klum models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2003.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Dubbed the "Very Sexy Fantasy Bra," the 2003 design was a chainmail-style piece made from a mix of 2,809 white diamonds, yellow-orange sapphires, rhodolites, and amethysts.

It also featured the Mouawad Excelsior Diamond —a 69-carat piece cut from the second-largest diamond in the world — hanging from its center.

Likely because it was see-through, Klum modeled it on the runway over a standard red bra.

The "Sexy Splendor Fantasy Bra" took center stage in 2005.
Gisele Bündchen models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2005.
Gisele Bündchen models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2005.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Modeled by Gisele Bündchen, the see-through piece cost $12.5 million and was crafted from 22 rubies and 2,900 pavé-set diamonds in a floral pattern.

Hanging from its middle strap was the 101-carat Mouawad Splendor Diamond pendant.

Kurková modeled her second Fantasy Bra in 2006.
Karolina Kurkova models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2006.
Karolina Kurkova models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2006.

Thomas Concordia/Stringer/Getty Images

The "Hearts on Fire Fantasy Bra" was one of the most dazzling ever seen on the Victoria's Secret runway.

Valued at $6.5 million, the silver bra was covered in tiny diamonds from its straps to its cups. It also had two thin straps in the middle, with a 10-carat flower-shaped pendant hanging from them.

Victoria's Secret put a holiday twist on the famous lingerie in 2007.
Selita Ebanks models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2007.
Selita Ebanks models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2007.

Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images

The diamond-covered, $4.5 million "Very Sexy Holiday" bra — modeled by Selita Ebanks — stood out thanks to the rubies, emeralds, and yellow sapphires arranged in the shape of holly across its cups.

Its Mouawad gems totaled 1,662.51 carats.

Victoria's Secret fans saw the dark side of the Fantasy Bra in 2008.
adriana lima Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra

AP Photo/Evan Agostini

Adriana Lima modeled the $5 million "Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra."

It was covered in black diamonds and had strings of rubies and white diamonds across it, for a total of 3,900 gems.

Victoria's Secret kept the edgy aesthetic going in 2009.
Marisa Miller models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2009.
Marisa Miller models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2009.

George Napolitano/Getty Images

The black "Harlequin Fantasy Bra" modeled by Marisa Miller was lined with white diamonds and decorated with brown gems in crisscross patterns — the work of Italian jeweler Damiani.

The $3 million piece also included a 16-carat heart-shaped diamond hanging from its center.

The Fantasy Bra returned to its roots in 2010.
Adriana Lima models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2010.
Adriana Lima models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2010.

Slaven Vlasic/Stringer/Getty Images

Lima modeled the "Bombshell Fantasy Bra," a $2 million semi-sheer garment set with 3,000 diamonds, sapphires, and topaz stones, in shapes inspired by stars and constellations.

It took 1,500 hours for Damiani to create the piece.

The 2011 "Fantasy Treasure Bra" was blue and lined with pearls.
Miranda Kerr models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2011.
Miranda Kerr models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2011.

Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images

Modeled by Miranda Kerr, the $2.5 million bra — designed by London Jewelers of New York — was covered in a mix of 3,400 diamonds, citrines, aquamarines, and pearls, the latter of which were also strung in rows beneath its cups.

Like other Fantasy Bras before it, the 2011 piece featured massive white and yellow diamonds, each weighing around 8 carats, that hung from its center.

Alessandra Ambrosio was selected to walk the 2012 runway in the "Floral Fantasy Bra."
Alessandra Ambrosio models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2012.
Alessandra Ambrosio models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2012.

Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/Getty Images

Another London Jewelers of New York creation, the peach-colored bra was valued at $2.5 million.

It had amethysts, sapphires, rubies, and diamonds in the shape of flowers set in 18-karat pink and yellow gold, as well as a 20-carat radiant-cut diamond hanging from a sparkling pendant.

The "Royal Fantasy Bra" was worn by Candice Swanepoel in 2013.
Candice Swanepoel 2013 Victoria's Secret

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Designed by Mouawad, the "Royal Fantasy Bra" featured 5,400 multicolored gems — a mix of diamonds, rubies, and sapphires — and 18-karat yellow gold.

Its center stone, adorned with a diamond bow, was a 52-carat pear-shaped ruby.

The next year was the first and only time Victoria's Secret created two Fantasy Bras.
Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2014.
Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2014.

Michael Stewart/Getty Images

Crafted over 1,380 hours by Mouawad artists, the "Dream Angels Fantasy Bras" stood out in 2014 thanks to an array of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and multicolored gems over 18-karat gold.

Adriana Lima modeled the blue version, and Alessandra Ambrosio modeled the red. Each cost $2 million.

The 2015 Fantasy Bra, modeled by Lily Aldridge, had a summer flair.
Lily Aldridge models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2015.
Lily Aldridge models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2015.

Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Called the "Fireworks Fantasy Bra," the $2 million piece was covered in 6,808 gemstones.

White diamonds covered its cups, while multicolored sapphires, garnets, amethysts, topazes, tourmalines, peridots, quartzes, citrines, and tsavorites were used to create the firework-esque swirls across them.

Jasmine Tookes dazzled in the 2016 "Bright Night Fantasy Bra."
Jasmine Tookes models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2016.
Jasmine Tookes models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2016.

Martin Bureau/Getty Images

Created over 700 hours by Aziz and Walid Mouzannar, the $3 million bra was one of the most luxurious ever made for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The geometric piece featured 9,000 round-cut diamonds and emeralds in clusters, creating a cutout effect across its cups. 

Lais Ribeiro sported the "Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra" in 2017.
Lais Ribeiro models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2017.
Lais Ribeiro models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2017.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

This $2 million piece was created with 6,000 white diamonds, yellow sapphires, and blue topazes.

While the bra featured a signature stone hanging from its center — a giant blue topaz — its golden collar with a second loose gem was unique.

Elsa Hosk modeled the Fantasy Bra created by Victoria's Secret in 2018, before the brand took a hiatus from the runway.
Elsa Hosk models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2018.
Elsa Hosk models the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra in 2018.

Michael Stewart/Getty Images

Designed by Atelier Swarovski, the $1 million "Dream Angels Fantasy Bra" was a netted bralette covered in 2,100 tiny diamonds.

It also had diamond-encrusted rope straps and a matching body chain that sat across it.

Kylie Jenner brought the Fantasy Bra back to the Victoria's Secret runway in 2026.
Kylie Jenner poses on a runway wearing white feather wings and a jeweled silver outfit against a dark backdrop.
Kylie Jenner walks the runway for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in October 2026.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret

Jenner walked the runway in the much-anticipated bra, designed by Jacob Arabo of Jacob & Co., to the cheers of Kris Jenner and Timothée Chalamet.

Arabo said ahead of the show that it was his goal to create "the most expensive Fantasy Bra ever made," and he delivered.

The bra was made entirely of diamonds and gold, unlike bras from past years that had a fabric base. It was made of 4,410 diamonds in total, including a 75.54-carat Natural Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond hanging from the center, as Victoria's Secret shared on Instagram after the show.

The 2026 Fantasy Bra took over 1,000 hours to make and is worth a whopping $50 million.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Aerial Drones Appear To Be Picking Up Wounded Off The Battlefield In Ukraine

19 October 2026 at 17:47

The Ukrainian Armed Forces say they have carried out the world’s first frontline evacuation of a wounded soldier by aerial drone. The soldier, from the 30th Mechanized Brigade, is said to have been recovered successfully and is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.

“This is a historic event, at least for our unit for sure,” said “Napalm,” a squad commander and programmer with the 92nd Assault Brigade’s uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) company. The precise date and location of the operation have not been disclosed, and the claim of a global first has not been independently verified. However, a video of the event has been published by the 92nd, which you can watch below:

At this point, it should be noted that the footage has not been independently verified and could depict a staged demonstration rather than an actual combat evacuation. It should, at least, be treated with a degree of caution.

According to accompanying reports, the infantryman was wounded while holding his position. Mines and intense Russian drone activity prevented a conventional ground evacuation, prompting the 92nd’s specialists to attempt an aerial extraction. The video shows the soldier clipping himself to the underside of the drone via a harness before being flown to safety. The extemporized nature of the platform is underscored by the fact that, while in the air, the soldier dangles below its rigid landing legs.

The soldier is seen hunched under the hexacopter before attaching his harness to the drone. 92nd Assault Brigade/YouTube screencap

The aircraft was a heavy hexacopter manufactured by Ukrainian company Gurzuf Defense, which provided it free of charge. A UAV operator from the 30th Mechanized Brigade piloted the drone. Throughout the recovery, the soldier remained in contact with the drone operator.

With the drone now airborne, the drone controllers monitor the flight from the ground. 92nd Assault Brigade/YouTube screencap

The operation involved the 92nd, 30th and 14th Mechanized Brigades, the 10th Army Corps and Gurzuf Defense.

Ukraine increasingly uses uncrewed ground vehicles to deliver supplies and evacuate casualties from exposed positions. According to Euromaidan Press, Ukrainian UGVs conducted approximately 112,000 logistics and evacuation missions between January and August 2026.

However, ground robots can struggle with mines, mud, and cratered terrain, while remaining vulnerable to drones and artillery. These obstacles make it especially difficult to conduct UGV operations in the battlefield’s “kill zone,” which can extend six to nine miles or more from the front line. You can read an in-depth account of Ukrainian UGV efforts in this previous story.

A video showing a Ukrainian UGV in action in the Donetsk region:

Aerial platforms are able to reach casualties in places where ground vehicles cannot safely travel, and can get there far quicker, without having to stick to specific routes.

The 92nd has not disclosed the evacuation distance or flight duration of the mission. If, as reported, the drone used was an Audag-6 model, this is stated to be capable of carrying a 200-pound payload over a distance of up to 15 miles.

Meanwhile, the recovery points to a growing trend in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Only days before the story of the evacuation broke, it emerged that Ukraine is also now testing the StarGate, a purpose-built aerial medical evacuation drone — also of the heavy hexacopter type — developed by the SkyFall company. This is a rather more tailored solution to the problem, with a covered, medical-grade stretcher slung below the drone. It has a reported payload capacity of around 330 pounds, uses AI-assisted navigation, and can also deploy nets against hostile drones attempting to intercept it.

The 92nd’s operation used a heavy-lift hexacopter adapted for an ad hoc casualty transport, rather than a more bespoke design. This means the soldier had to be adequately trained on how to strap in, and also had to be in a condition that they could actually perform this procedure. This would also be the case even if other soldiers were able to assist them in strapping in.

While these kinds of solutions may be new to the battlefield in Ukraine, using uncrewed aerial systems for personnel recovery and medical evacuation is far from new.

Back in 2016, the Army completed a demonstration of the Lockheed Martin K-Max helicopter in a casualty evacuation role. The K-Max can operate with and without a pilot and was used as a drone by the Marine Corps to deliver cargo in Afghanistan.

A U.S. Marine Corps K-Max helicopter. U.S. Marine Corps

“Unmanned and autonomous platforms have the potential to completely rewrite the medical doctrine,” Army Col. Daniel Kral, head of the Army’s Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), explained during a conference at Fort Detrick in Maryland in 2017.

In 2019, TWZ reported on U.S. Army efforts to explore how uncrewed craft might speed up the casualty evacuation process. This work included evaluation of the Dragonfly Pictures, Inc. (DPI) DP-14 Hawk, a small, tandem-rotor drone with a 400-pound cargo capacity.

 A DP-14 Hawk shown configured for casualty evacuation. Dragonfly Pictures, Inc.

The emergence of autonomous air vehicles, or uncrewed ‘flying taxis,’ with short or vertical take-off and landing capabilities in the urban air mobility sector has also generated military interest. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, for example, has conducted studies into how craft such as these could be adapted for combat search and rescue, with the idea that they would be airdropped to recover a fighter pilot shot down while operating over hostile territory.

Closer to the Ukrainian hexacopter concept is the Flowcopter FC-100, a heavy-lift quadcopter drone that the U.S. Army tested in a medical evacuation capacity in Poland during the large-scale Saber Strike exercise earlier this year. Carrying a 220-pound payload, the drone has a range of more than 60 miles.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the Regimental Support Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, run with a test dummy in a stretcher towards a drone during an Autonomous Triage and Treatment Challenge taking place near Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, May 10, 2026. From April 27 to May 31, 2026, U.S. and Allied forces will exercise the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, demonstrating NATO’s ability to fight and win on the modern battlefield. Nearly 15,000 troops from eleven nations will train across the High North, Baltic region, and Poland. They will execute rapid maneuvers, air defense, counter-drone operations, and cyber defense to validate NATO’s regional defense plans in real time. This series of linked exercises includes Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response. The exercises turn investment into capability. Soldiers integrate unmanned systems such as AI-enabled command and control and live data networks to move, decide, and fight more effectively across all domains. Sword 26 demonstrates how U.S. Army Europe and Africa drives transformation at scale while strengthening deterrence. Together with our allies, we are building a unified, lethal force ready to defend NATO territory and respond to any threat. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Thomas Madrzak)
U.S. Army soldiers run with a test dummy in a stretcher towards a Flowcopter FC-100 drone during an Autonomous Triage and Treatment Challenge taking place near Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, May 10, 2026, as part of Exercise Saber Strike. U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Thomas Madrzak

All of these concepts aim to address the inherent vulnerability of larger personnel recovery platforms in more contested environments.

In their favor, they offer the potential to rescue troops from more precarious situations, with the smaller drones touching down in relatively tight areas in mountainous, forested, or jungle environments. Autonomous navigation systems can guide the drones through smoke, dust, or bad weather, too.

On the other hand, these small craft have no space for a medic, pararescuemen, or other additional personnel. Bearing in mind their limited range and lower speeds, they also need to be in the right location to respond to emergencies as and when they occur.

For the Ukrainian Armed Forces, aerial medical evacuation drones are being rapidly developed and now fielded to help address another problem: the vulnerability of UGVs in areas of the battlefield that have long become far too hazardous for crewed medevac platforms to operate.

By now, both sides in the Ukraine war are relying heavily upon small, autonomous uncrewed aircraft to perform a wide variety of resupply, surveillance, communications, and strike roles on and around the front lines. With that in mind, the adaptation of these kinds of vehicles for casualty evacuation and personnel recovery missions is the next logical step.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

The post Aerial Drones Appear To Be Picking Up Wounded Off The Battlefield In Ukraine appeared first on TWZ.

‘Carrie’ Star Alison Thornton Knows Exactly How You Feel About Her Polarizing Character

19 October 2026 at 16:45
Some viewers want to hug Chris Hargensen; others cheered her death. The actress, who says she loves the debate over her character in Mike Flanagan's take on Stephen King's classic, breaks down her tragic spiral.

Star Wars: A Russian Military Satellite Gets Very, Very Close To One Used By Ukraine

19 October 2026 at 16:02
Last week, a Russian military satellite came “exceptionally close” to another Finnish-operated satellite that provides intelligence to Ukraine. “It’s concerning and aggressive with potential hostile intent – but I also think cooler heads believe it is signaling on the part of the Russians.”

Angry Golf Bros Tried to Ruin Heather McMahon. She Released a Hulu Special Instead

19 October 2026 at 15:00
In 'By a Thread' and this interview, the comedian tackles the bizarre fallout from the Rider Cup gaffe that put her in the crosshairs of the manosphere: "Men don't want women in their spaces."

'We're Never Going To Be The Major Player': Former Diplomat's Reality Check On US Ambitions In Central Asia

19 October 2026 at 13:42
Marco Rubio has brought nearly 300 American business representatives to Uzbekistan for a meeting with representatives of the five states of Central Asia. But Daniel N. Rosenblum, a former US ambassador to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, cautions that investment faces major obstacles.

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