Russian defense industry officials said Wednesday that fragments of what they described as a new American-made drone were found after a Ukrainian attack in the Donetsk region.
The claim was made by Dmitry Sadovnik, deputy general director of the Shadow drone detector manufacturer, in comments to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
According to officials from the administration of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR), the attack took place on Monday, March 3. They said the strike damaged a residential building, a power line and an industrial facility.
Sadovnik said fragments recovered at the scene indicated that Ukrainian forces had used a previously unseen fixed-wing strike drone, believed to be known as the Hornet.
“During the attack on civilian facilities in Donetsk on Monday, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used a new aircraft-type strike drone for the first time, presumably known as Hornet,” Sadovnik told RIA Novosti.
“This is indicated by characteristic fragments left at the attack site.”
He said the drone is capable of striking targets at distances of up to about 145 kilometers (90 miles) and carrying a payload of roughly 5 kilograms (11 pounds).
Its design features a vertical stabilizer, rudder and a pusher propeller mounted at the tail – elements that distinguish it from many other drones.
According to Sadovnik, the drone also uses satellite navigation and can fly a pre-programmed autonomous route.
He added that the recovered fragments suggested the drone may be linked to the US company Swift Beat, which is involved in developing next-generation unmanned aerial systems for Ukraine.
The same type of drone had previously been observed in Ukrainian operations in the Zaporizhzhia region, he said.
Kyiv has not publicly commented on the specific drone fragments cited in the Russian report.
In July 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the signing of an agreement with Swift Beat to produce several types of drones, including long-range strike UAVs, for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
AI-powered interceptor drones built by a tech company founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt are playing a major role in helping Ukraine shoot down Russian Shahed drones, according to an earlier report by Ekonomichna Pravda.
Ukrainian military sources told the outlet that Schmidt’s company, Swift Beat, has provided three types of drones to Ukraine’s defense forces.
Though the names of the models were withheld for security reasons, officials said the systems are responsible for downing roughly 90% of Russian Shaheds intercepted by drones.
The drones are said to be equipped with advanced AI targeting technology and a secure communication system that has so far proven resistant to Russian electronic warfare.