Edward Scott has survived a drone attack while delivering humanitarian aid in Ukraine, where he has been volunteering since October 2022.
Sometimes, the war in Ukraine feels distant, despite frequent news reports and its proximity to Europe. However, the devastating news that 28-year-old Edward “Eddy” Scott from Stour Row, near Shaftesbury, had been seriously injured in a drone attack has brought the war much closer to home.
The Drone Attack
On 30 January 2025, Eddy was driving a clearly marked, armoured humanitarian vehicle as part of an evacuation mission in Pokrovsk. The vehicle, operated by Base UA, was hit by a Russian First Person View (FPV) drone carrying a cumulative charge. The drone struck the top rear left side of the vehicle while it was navigating a damaged section of the road at low speed.
Eddy sustained severe injuries, rendering him unable to continue driving. His team leader, Pylyp Rozdestvennkyi, acted swiftly, applying tourniquets to Eddy’s left limbs to control the bleeding. Suffering minor shrapnel wounds himself, Pylyp checked the two evacuee passengers, confirming that one was unharmed while the other had a minor shrapnel wound.
With no time to lose, Pylyp flagged down a passing military vehicle and secured urgent assistance. Pylyp carried Edward into the military vehicle, and the unharmed evacuee stayed with him. Pylyp followed the military vehicle in the damaged Fiat Ducato as they made their way toward Hryshyne, where a casualty transfer point was located.
Upon arrival, medical personnel were standing by. Despite his injuries, Eddy remained conscious – he was immediately assessed, moved to an ambulance and transported to a larger medical facility for emergency surgery.
Doctors at the hospital made every effort to preserve Edward’s limbs, but due to the severity of his injuries, he was taken into surgery for amputation. His left leg was amputated above the knee, and his left arm underwent a high amputation, preserving approximately 10 cm below the shoulder. Following surgery, he was transferred to an ICU ambulance operated by MOAS and transported to a hospital in Dnipro – Pylyp followed in a separate vehicle right behind.
Humanitarian Work in Ukraine
Eddy, a British sailor from Shaftesbury, attended Sherborne School. He has been actively involved in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine since October 2022. Initially considering joining the military, he was instead encouraged to work in aid relief. He first set up Dorset to Donetsk, using a truck to deliver humanitarian supplies, and later joined Base UA, a Ukrainian NGO for humanitarian aid and cultural work founded by activists and journalists. His work focused on evacuating civilians from frontline areas and rebuilding damaged homes.
In the three weeks leading up to the attack, Base UA had been working in coordination with Vodafone and East SOS to refuel generators powering the only two mobile network towers in Pokrovsk, ensuring residents could contact evacuation hotlines.
Increasing Drone Threats
Kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions, are aerial weapons equipped with warheads that crash into their targets. Russia first used drones on military targets in September 2022, but since then, they have increasingly been deployed against civilian infrastructure. The attack on Eddy and his team marks the second time in two months that Base UA vehicles have been directly targeted by Russian drones.
Drones such as FPVs are manually controlled, allowing the operator to visually confirm and select a target before initiating an attack. Targeting clearly marked civilian vehicles and humanitarian workers violates the Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime.
Recovery and Support
Images of Eddy in hospital have gone viral, with an outpouring of support from the global community. Despite his life-altering injuries, Eddy remains in stable condition, high spirits and is determined to continue supporting Ukraine in any way possible. Base UA described Eddy as a dedicated humanitarian who has risked his life countless times to help others: ‘Eddy’s story highlights the increasing dangers faced by aid workers and civilians in Ukraine, particularly from drone attacks, as they strive to assist civilians amidst ongoing conflict as well as the often overlooked and numerous war crimes by Russian forces daily.’
Eddy has chosen to remain in Ukraine for his treatment, receiving assistance from The Weatherman Foundation. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to aid in his rehabilitation and recovery. At the time of writing, more than £104,495 has been raised to support his long-term care.
If you would like to contribute to Eddy’s Recovery GoFundMe, you can find it here https://bit.ly/EddysRecovery
By Rachael Rowe and Laura Hitchcock
