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A Russian combat drone, the S-70 "Okhotnik," or "Hunter," was taken down over eastern Ukraine last week, potentially offering significant information on Russia's new weaponry. Videos shared on social media indicated that the drone was shot down by a Russian fighter jet on October 5 after veering off course, resulting in the destruction of a house on the ground.

The S-70 drone, under development since 2012, had not been deployed prior to the two-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The crash and subsequent attempted cover-up—the drone was targeted with a missile to destroy its wreckage—highlight a significant setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin's military, which has yet to master the drone's deployment.

Despite the missile strike aimed at obliterating the drone, Ukrainian forces managed to recover parts of it. A former Pentagon official told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the debris could yield invaluable insights into Russian military technology and their cooperation with Iran on weapon systems.

Ukraine and Russia have both remained silent on the incident, refraining from making any public statements. Meanwhile, an investigation revealed that Russia had enlisted around 200 African women to work in a factory dedicated to assembling Iranian attack drones intended for use against Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities are also looking into the mysterious disappearance and presumed death of a journalist who went missing in the occupied region of the country in August 2023.