Ukraine’s 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade used inexpensive, first-person-view (FPV) drones to destroy two bridges inside Russia in an attack that marks an emerging trend of effective drone use in war.

Ukrainian Military Struck Two Bridges Used by Russians to Hide Ammunition

According to the 58th Brigade, the two bridges held caches of Russian mines and ammunition used by the Kremlin’s forces to resupply and support its operations near the Ukrainian frontline. Bridges across the Siverskyi Donets River were mined and prepared to blow up quickly in the event of a Ukrainian attack.

Russia has been using this tactic since the war began. For instance, at the very start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv destroyed bridges leading to the capital city of Kyiv to slow Moscow’s offensive. The tactic has clearly come in handy for Ukrainian forces now.

The 58th Brigade reported becoming aware of unusual activity near one of the bridges. “It became clear that something was going on there,” a unit representative said in an interview with CNN.

Deploying an FPV Drone With Fiber Optics to Gather Reconnaissance

The unit did not want to use normal reconnaissance drones because they could lose signal when operating under the bridge. So it deployed an FPV drone instead, which uses fiber optics technology for real-time signal transmission.

The drone investigation revealed large amounts of anti-tank mines and other ammunition. “We saw the mines and we struck,” the representative told CNN.

Examining the Results From A Safe Distance

Footage provided by the brigade shows a drone flying toward the bridge and spotting what looks like munitions under the bridge before detonating in an explosion. A second camera nearby captured the entire blast from afar.

CNN geolocated the bridge to Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.

The unit also checked a nearby bridge and found it too was mined and brimming with ammunition. A second drone was also deployed and a second powerful blast followed.

“(We) saw an opportunity and took it,” said the 58th Brigade in a separate post.

Victory Came at a Price of About $600 for a Drone

CNN said the cost of each of the drones used by the brigade for each of these operations was between 25,000 and 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias, or roughly $600–$725. The estimate comes from the 58th Brigade itself.

It would have been costly for Ukraine to destroy the bridges using standard guided missiles or precision bombs at such a distance from the border. For instance, for other attacks in Russia’s Kursk region near Belgorod, Kyiv used U.S.-supplied HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems). Each HIMARS system costs millions of dollars to procure. Even the rockets fired by each launcher cost tens of thousands of dollars each. Contrast that with the drones, which cost less than an average smartphone.

FPV Drones Are Playing a Rising Role on the Battlefield

Ukraine’s success in the attack comes at a time when FPV drones are playing a more pronounced role on the battlefield, allowing the smaller side to strike at targets deep in enemy territory and economy. The use of drones in that manner also helps it preserve its scarce Western-supplied munitions.

Kyiv has been making more use of the FPV drones. In June, Ukraine reportedly used small drones that were smuggled up to Russian military airfields to set dozens of Russian aircraft ablaze. According to military analyst Mykola Bielieskov, these kinds of operations are important because even cheap drones can create massive effect when used in creative ways. FPV drones have also helped Ukraine even the score, albeit somewhat, with the Russian military, which has a far larger arsenal and larger number of attack drones.

Such a solution is even more important given the context. Ukraine’s military has been struggling with mounting pressure and fierce resistance from Russian forces in the east. Moreover, the Kremlin has stepped up its campaign of almost-daily missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. President Vladimir Putin has also precluded a ceasefire by continuing his offensive. This is what makes the bridges’ destruction a rare victory for Kyiv.

Russia Hasn’t Responded to the News Yet, But Has Much to Lose

Russia has not yet commented on the development. Still, it is bound to lose militarily. The two bridges were providing supplies to Russian troops near the Ukraine border, so the destruction has deprived Russian forces of critical supply lines for equipment, ammunition, and supplies in the Belgorod region.