"A rare bird was shot down by anti-aircraft gunners and pilots of the 63rd Brigade — a Russian experimental Merlin-VR reconnaissance drone," the brigade's statement read.The Merlin-VR was shot down by a Ukrainian FPV (first-person-view) drone. The brigade did not specify where the air battle took place.0:00/1×Footage purporting to show Ukraine's attack on a Russian reconnaissance drone Merlin-VR. (The 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade)Russian developers presented the Merlin-VR in 2021, and the Russian army has been using it on the battlefield since 2022.The drone reportedly has a hybrid engine, which reduces its noise while in motion. It can also fly for up to 10 hours and reach altitudes of up to 5 kilometers (3 miles).Various aerial, naval, and ground drones have been developed and often successfully used for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks by Ukrainian troops.Kyiv has delivered more than 200,000 domestically-produced drones to front-line units so far in December, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.North Korean troops deployed to fight for Russia learn modern warfare — albeit at heavy costSince December, North Korean troops have been taking part in active combat on Russia’s side in the country’s Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine has held territory since August.