Ukrainian military has destroyed two bridges inside Russia’s Belgorod region in an audacious strike which showed the impact of low-cost first-person-view (FPV) drones on the battlefield.

The 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade posted details of the attacks on Telegram. Footage accompanying the announcement shows one of the drones spotting ammunition and mines stored under a bridge before self-destructing in a massive explosion.

Commenting on the operation, a representative of the brigade told CNN it had carried out the strikes in retaliation for Russian artillery strikes in the Kharkiv region. Targeted by Ukrainian forces were stockpiles of mines and ammunition hidden by the Russians under bridges in Belgorod to supply troops on the frontline, it added.

Pictures taken by a camera positioned away from the bridge show the extent of the explosion.

CNN was able to geolocate the precise location of one of the bridges to Russia’s Belgorod region, just over the border from Ukraine’s Kharkiv. Local sources reported the destruction of bridges along the border with Russia after the attack.

“By the way, we checked the other bridge, and it turned out that it was also mined,” the 58th Brigade continued, reporting a second successful strike at the area. “So we launched a new quad [drone] into the air, which also exploded.”

The Drones

In addition to their striking use, the operation was notable for the low cost of the drones. At between 25,000 and 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias, or $600–$725 each, they are low cost compared to the alternative: precision munitions.

Standard HIMARS rockets, for example, which Ukraine has used to strike deep into Russia, retail for about $150,000 per launcher with each rocket costing over $100,000.

The drones deployed in Belgorod were smaller and less expensive, with reports from the 58th Brigade of them having been assembled using commercial parts and then modified by volunteers. With Western munitions in short supply, Ukraine has no choice but to find innovative solutions like these to the conflict.

The Briscoe War Drone, developed by volunteers in Ukraine, has been particularly noted for its effectiveness. No data has been published on the unit cost, but the groups behind it have described it as low-cost.

As The Kyiv Independent has previously reported, “FPV technology, typically used in commercial drones and for recreational racing, has become highly effective on the battlefield for direct attacks or surveillance.”

The Drones in Action

Video released by the 58th Brigade shows the FPV drone’s final moments before the explosion in Belgorod. In the footage, the drone is seen approaching the bridge. As it hovers above the anti-tank mines stashed by Russian forces, the drone’s operator makes a split-second decision to detonate.

A second camera in the vicinity, as seen by the hand briefly visible at the end of the clip, records the drone as it blasts in a fireball. “We saw the mines, and we struck,” the 58th Brigade representative added.

In the past, Ukraine has turned to this type of drone to great effect. In June, Kyiv used similar devices to strike Russian airfields with military analysts estimating up to 50 aircraft were damaged or destroyed in those attacks.

Analysis

Military analyst Mykola Bielieskov told The Kyiv Independent that the drone strikes are a way for Ukraine to carry out operations cheaply, at a time when Western supplies remain limited.

“(Russia) has massive stocks, they are probably not concerned about numbers but qualitative differences,” he said. “But for Ukraine every drone counts.” Drones offer a way for Ukraine to target Russian assets at a much lower cost than precision munitions from the West.

“This has so far been a war of numbers with one side having a numerical advantage,” he said. “Drones give Ukraine a bit of breathing space.”

The Strikes

The destruction of the two bridges comes after weeks of Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, and near-daily drone and missile strikes on cities inside Ukraine.

In the past weeks Russian forces have been making gains in the east near the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Putin has refused to even discuss a ceasefire, with both Moscow and Kyiv seemingly ready for a fight into the autumn.

The Belgorod bridge strikes came after Russian shelling of Kharkiv. They provided a rare moment of good news for Ukraine after a tough period on the frontlines, which Russia has been making progress in the east.

Russia has not so far commented on the destruction of the two bridges in Belgorod. But their loss will create serious problems for logistics inside Russia’s Belgorod region, where supply lines will be severely complicated.