A Ukrainian strike on bridges inside Russia’s Belgorod region has become the latest illustration of cheap, first-person-view (FPV) drones making a big difference on today’s battlefield. The two bridges, used by Russian forces for supplies and located close to the border with Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, were destroyed in attacks by Ukraine’s 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.

In doing so, the unit targeted ammunition and mines stashed under the structure. Ukrainian officials noted that the two bridges had been used as supply routes by Russian troops in the area. The Russian military had mined the bridges in advance in a sign that it was preparing them for destruction in the event of a rapid Ukrainian offensive.

Ukrainian forces appear to have used the same tactic against Russia. In February 2022, Ukrainian forces destroyed a series of bridges leading toward Kyiv in the opening days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The move slowed Moscow’s advance on the capital in a key early effort to protect Ukraine’s largest city. Ukraine’s 58th Brigade said it grew suspicious after seeing unusual activity around the first of the two bridges in question.

“It became clear that something was going on there,” a unit representative told CNN. The brigade then decided to use a drone to further investigate. Standard reconnaissance drones could not fly under the bridge and maintain a signal, so an FPV drone with fiber optics was launched instead.

It was under the bridge that the drone discovered a large cache of anti-tank mines and other ammunition. “We saw the mines and we struck,” the brigade representative added. The unit released video of the attack, which shows the drone approach the bridge and then detonate after spotting the hidden munitions in a massive explosion. A second camera was also placed nearby to record the explosion from a distance. CNN geolocated the bridge to Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Kharkiv.

The unit then decided to inspect a second bridge in the region, where it also found mines. A second drone was launched and also detonated to another powerful explosion. “We saw an opportunity and took it,” the brigade added.

The use of drones was notable not just for the ingenuity but also for the cost. Each of the drones used in the Belgorod attack cost between 25,000 and 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias, or roughly $600–$725 each. If Ukraine had been using more traditional weapons to destroy the bridges, the outlay would be much higher. Standard military drones have been out of range, and destroying a bridge that far inside Russia would normally require guided missiles or precision bombs.

As one example, Ukraine has previously used U.S.-supplied HIMARS systems to attack bridges in Russia’s Kursk region. The HIMARS multiple rocket launchers each cost millions of dollars and each rocket launch costs tens of thousands of dollars. In contrast, each of the FPV drones used in the Belgorod attacks cost less than a smartphone. And instead of expending guided missiles or expensive Western-supplied munitions, the bridges were destroyed by an easily replaceable drone.

The operation also reflects how Ukrainian FPV drones are being used for maximum effect on the battlefield. In June, Ukrainian forces managed to destroy or damage dozens of Russian aircraft with the help of small drones that had been smuggled close to Russian military airfields.

“These types of operations show how even modest technology can achieve outsized results when used creatively,” said military analyst Mykola Bielieskov. The drones provide a more cost-effective option for Ukraine to target forces deep inside Russia.

The attacks on the Belgorod bridges come as Russia is increasing pressure on Ukraine on multiple fronts. Russian forces are grinding forward in eastern Ukraine, having launched an offensive in the Luhansk region in June. Moscow is also continuing its barrage of near-daily missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities.

This pressure has continued as Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to agree to any ceasefire talks in recent weeks. The Russian leader has repeatedly spoken about continuing the offensive and going “to the end” in Ukraine. In this context, the news of two destroyed bridges in Russia on June 28 came as a rare piece of good news for Ukraine.

Russia has yet to officially comment on the attack, although the loss of the bridges is sure to complicate logistics in the Belgorod region and disrupt supply lines to Russian forces stationed close to the Ukrainian border.

The Belgorod strikes have become a part of a wider reality for Ukraine’s military. In a war where Western supplies can often be limited and Russian forces enjoy numerical superiority, Kyiv has been forced to improvise to keep up. FPV drones have been one such weapon of choice, often assembled from commercial parts and even modified by civilian volunteers.

“The value of these drones cannot be overstated,” said the 58th Brigade representative. “They allow us to achieve results that would otherwise require weapons we don’t have.” For Ukraine, striking in this manner inside Russian territory and hitting military targets has become a way of staying ahead of the odds. And as the war drags on, Kyiv’s ability to adapt and to use creativity in this way may prove crucial to balancing the battlefield. For now, two destroyed bridges in Belgorod serve as a potent reminder that even the smallest and cheapest weapons can have a strategic impact.