Ukraine’s military has destroyed two bridges inside Russia’s Belgorod region in an operation that showcased how inexpensive, first-person-view (FPV) drones can be used effectively on the battlefield. The strikes, conducted by Ukraine’s 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, targeted caches of Russian mines and ammunition that had been hidden under the two bridges near the Russian border with Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.

The two bridges were important supply routes for Russian forces operating near the front lines, according to Ukrainian officials, who also said that the Russian military had mined them in anticipation of demolishing them in the event of a sudden Ukrainian advance. In that sense, the strikes represented a case of what could be called whack-a-mole strategy, with Ukraine responding to a Russian tactic with a Ukrainian one of its own.

Ukrainian forces carry out artillery strikes near the Russian border village of Vodyanoye, Belgorod Region, Russia, on October 4, 2023. (Source: Getty Images)

“They became key logistical hubs for Russian forces in the area,” the 58th Brigade said in a post on the Telegram messaging app. “The Russian military mined the bridges in advance and set them up for destruction in the event of a Ukrainian breakthrough.”

In February 2022, during the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine destroyed several bridges leading toward Kyiv in order to slow Moscow’s advance on the Ukrainian capital. Ukrainian forces have since used the same tactic on multiple occasions to protect urban centers or block Russian retreats. Now, the Ukrainians appear to have turned the tables on Russia, with the destruction of the two bridges near Kharkiv likely to disrupt Russian supply lines in the area.

The 58th Brigade said it first became suspicious after observing activity around one of the bridges. “It became clear that something was going on there,” a representative of the unit told CNN. Standard reconnaissance drones could not be used to scan under the structure without losing signal, so the brigade sent in an FPV drone equipped with fiber optics.

The drone discovered an important cache of anti-tank mines and ammunition hidden under the bridge. “We saw the mines, and we struck,” the brigade representative told CNN. Video released by the brigade shows the drone approaching the bridge and spotting the hidden munitions before detonating in a large explosion. A second camera positioned near the structure caught the blast from a distance. CNN geolocated the bridge to the Belgorod region, near the border with Kharkiv.

Buoyed by their success, the unit inspected a second bridge in the vicinity, which it also discovered to be mined. The unit then deployed a second drone which likewise set off a large explosion upon reaching the munitions. “(We) saw an opportunity and took it,” the brigade said in its Telegram post.

The attacks were as noteworthy for their ingenuity as they were for their cheapness. The drones cost between 25,000 and 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias, or approximately $600–$725, each. In normal circumstances, destroying bridges at such range would require guided missiles or precision-guided bombs.

For instance, Ukraine has in the past used U.S.-supplied HIMARS systems to strike infrastructure inside Russia’s Kursk region. A single HIMARS launcher costs millions of dollars, while individual rockets cost tens of thousands apiece. In contrast, the bridges in Belgorod were destroyed with drones worth less than a typical smartphone.

The successful strikes underscore how cheap drones are changing the calculus of the battlefield, allowing Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russia without depleting Western-supplied munitions. Kyiv has also turned to FPV drones for maximum impact in the past. In June, Ukrainian forces used small drones smuggled close to Russian military airfields to destroy or damage dozens of aircraft.

“These types of operations show how even relatively modest technology can achieve outsized results when used in an innovative manner,” military analyst Mykola Bielieskov said, adding that drones provide Ukraine with a cost-effective way of dealing with Russia’s larger arsenals.

The destruction of the Belgorod bridges comes as Ukraine is facing renewed pressure along the frontlines. Russian forces have been grinding forward in eastern Ukraine, while Moscow continues to pummel Ukrainian cities with near-daily missile and drone strikes.

President Vladimir Putin has also indicated that he has no intention of halting his campaign of missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. The Russian leader has also said that he will not consider talks about a ceasefire until the offensive is over, and on Tuesday he restated that position in a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Russian military has also stepped up its strikes against critical infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, the destruction of the bridges offered a rare bright spot for Kyiv. Russia has not officially commented on the attacks, but the loss of two supply bridges will complicate its logistics in the Belgorod region and disrupt supply lines to its troops stationed along the border with Ukraine.

For Ukraine’s military, the Belgorod strikes are a reminder of a simple reality of the war: without innovation, Kyiv will not survive. The loss of Western supplies, combined with Russian numerical advantages, have forced Kyiv to improvise. FPV drones, cobbled together from commercial parts and modified by volunteers, have become one of the most effective weapons in Ukraine’s arsenal.

“The drones have made our work a lot easier,” the 58th Brigade representative said. “We use them to achieve the result that could only be done by weapons that we don’t have.” As the war drags on, Kyiv’s ability to adapt and strike creatively inside Russia may be a crucial factor in offsetting Moscow’s battlefield advantages. For now, two destroyed bridges in Belgorod stand as a stark reminder that even small, cheap weapons can have a strategic impact.