On Monday, two bridges in Russia’s Belgorod region were blown up by Ukrainian troops in a display of first-person-view (FPV) drones’ rising battlefield utility. A horde of inexpensive drones fired one at a time are “now emerging as a capability,” said military analyst Michael Kofman. Ukrainian servicemen from the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade completed the mission after Russian ammunition and mines were discovered under the bridges. The location of the explosion is very close to the boundary with Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.

Hits on Strategic Bridges

The two bridges had been mined by the Russian army and were on standby for destruction if Ukraine decided to attack unexpectedly. Bridges, according to Ukrainian officials, were being used by Russia to send supplies and munitions to its forces close to the front lines. Bridges near Kyiv were also blown up by the Ukrainians during Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 to prevent the military from getting close to the city.

To avoid being caught off guard, the 58th Brigade claims to have mined the structure. “It became clear that something was going on there,” a unit representative told CNN. There were difficulties in observing the structure using surveillance drones because they were unable to enter under the bridge without losing connection. So the soldiers utilized an FPV drone with fiber optics in its hands to assess the situation. When the drone investigated under the bridge, it discovered hidden mines, ammunition, and jerry cans, the officer claimed.

Attacking an Enemy Base

The brigade released the video of the attack, which may be seen in the tweets below. The explosives came first, and the drone collided with the roof in a massive explosion. The impact was recorded by the remote-controlled aircraft in the video. According to the military unit, there was a large concentration of anti-tank mines and many different ammo types hidden beneath the bridge. “We saw the mines, and we struck,” the brigade spokesman added.

CNN was able to geolocate the incident to the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. We also geolocated another footage, which shows a drone near the area. The Brigade flew the drones close to one of the structure’s corners. CNN claims that the initial drone blew up the ammunition dump.

A Price Worth Paying

The Ukrainian unit is also showing us that two more bridges are expected to explode. In the following video, a drone collides with a Russian ammunition dump that is hidden. The bombs are detonated after the drone reveals them, according to one of the message released by the Brigade. “(We) saw an opportunity and took it,” the Brigade tweeted. The unit used to attack those targets and catch Russian arms and ammo as they are heading to the front lines.

CNN spoke with a representative from the 58th Brigade about how these strikes were one of the most recent demonstrations of Ukraine’s military prowess and mobility. These two blasts were not the Brigade’s first. It was the result of two remarkably affordable and inexpensive drones. According to the organization, the unit used two FPV drones for each attack, which had a price range of 25,000 to 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias, or $600-$725 each.

Eyeing Expensive Missiles

CNN reached out to U.S. Special Operations Command for comment on how Ukrainian forces frequently use commercial-off-the-shelf drones with simple modifications in unstructured combat operations. These platforms are lightweight and small, making them easy to overlook. The brigades made the critical investment with their guidance missiles instead of high-priced missiles. Ukraine has used HIMARS rocket launchers before to attack goals in Kursk, Russia, which cost tens of thousands of dollars for every projectile.

It has deployed one battery of the American-made mobile rocket launchers for weeks in a tactical assault. Ukraine is increasingly using HIMARS to hit infrastructure and troop sites deep in Russia in retaliation for Moscow’s attacks on its territory. HIMARS launchers, on the other hand, are worth several million dollars. Such munitions are expensive to come by in Ukraine.

FPV Drones on a Budget

FPV drones are small unmanned aerial systems that are controlled by the individual flying them. They are one of many inexpensive Ukrainian drones. To the greatest extent possible, the same portions can be utilized by armymen to complete tasks. Upgrading these drones for battle has been mostly undertaken by civilians from scratch.

According to Forbes, Ukraine has deployed a wide range of drones to the battlefield, ranging from hobbyist models to “tank killers.” In June, Ukrainian FPDVs helped damage dozens of Russian aircraft and kill many of them. Despite the fact that Kyiv is short on inventory, these drones are one of the few methods the Ukrainian army has discovered to strike its foes inside Russian territory. Drones have also reduced the need for expensive Western missiles.

Rare Success in Long War

The missile launches in the Belgorod area came at a time when Russia was gaining an upper hand in its fierce combat in eastern Ukraine. The Russian military has frequently targeted several Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones during the previous week. Since the conflict erupted, there have been more than 230 missile attacks. For the previous seven days, Ukraine has been the target of almost one missile per hour.

Ukraine is struggling to find ammunition and cannot protect its industry and facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been openly raising the issue of Russian pilots becoming more ruthless. As a result, he’s calling on Western leaders to provide Ukraine with the jet interceptors that Ukraine needs. On August 21, Vladimir Putin has also made it clear that he would not be eager to discuss a ceasefire or halt in combat. However, the success of blowing up two bridges provided a sliver of optimism to Ukrainians who are seeking victories. Russia has not yet made any official announcement about it.