The removal of two bridges in Russia’s Belgorod region by Ukrainian drones may have destroyed Russian munitions supplies. This Friday attack by Ukraine’s 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade “eliminated a cache of Russian mines and ammunition under the two bridges near the border with the Kharkiv region,” as the brigade described in its post on Telegram. Ukraine military sources said the targets were being used by Russia to deliver ammunition to their lines near the frontline in Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials said the two bridges had been mined by the Russians. The explosives could be used to destroy them in case of a Ukrainian breakthrough. This defensive tactic is not new. In February 2022, Ukraine destroyed a series of bridges near Kyiv to slow Russian troops’ advance and defend the capital city. Now, the tables have turned, with Ukraine employing the same tactic in Russia’s Belgorod.

Suspicious Movement Leads to Attack

Suspicious activity near one of the bridges raised the brigade’s interest. “It became clear that something was going on there,” a unit representative said. To get a better understanding of the situation, they sent an FPV drone with fiber optics. The closer drones would not be able to send an image if they were not in the range of the standard drone cameras.

Bridge Inside Russia Destroyed by Ukraine

The findings show the Ukrainian forces a stockpile of Russian anti-tank mines and ammunition. “We saw the mines, and we struck,” said the representative. The drone entered the bridge and, after identifying the target, exploded. Another camera recorded the attack from a distance. CNN geolocated the attack in Russia’s Belgorod region near the Kharkiv border.

Finding a Place for Bridges in Ukraine’s Defenses

Motivated by the success of the first attack, the 58th Brigade checked another bridge and found that it was also mined. This time, they flew another drone through the air that exploded, making another colossal explosion.

“(We) saw an opportunity and took it,” 58th Brigade announced. So the op using two drones resulted in both important bridges near Kharkiv to be destroyed.

AFP: Ukrainian forces removed mines and ammunition from under two bridges in Russia’s Belgorod on July 29, 2023

Expensive Attack

Destroying bridges in Russia’s Belgorod from Ukraine sounds an expensive mission. On the contrary, drones destroyed by the Ukrainians cost between 25,000 and 30,000 hryvnias, or about $600–$725 each. Drones eliminated the significant logistic hubs for Russia across the border with Ukraine.

Ordinarily, such targets could be out of reach of Ukraine’s military. To destroy the infrastructure in Russia, Ukraine previously had to use U.S.-supplied HIMARS. Each HIMARS system launcher is sold in the millions of dollars, with rockets reaching tens of thousands of dollars per piece.

Rare Strike on Russian Supplies

For Ukraine, it is not the first FPV drones that work out for the maximum effect. In June, Ukraine destroyed dozens of Russian aircraft at military airfields by smuggling small drones close to the airport. “These types of operations show how even modest technology can achieve outsized results when used creatively,” military analyst Mykola Bielieskov said.

Using drones in Belgorod’s two destroyed bridges could give Ukraine an edge over Russia by providing a cheaper method of reaching inside Russia. The destruction of the two bridges inside Russia came at a time when Russia is piling on more pressure against Ukraine. Russian forces have been slowly grinding forward in eastern Ukraine. In the last couple of weeks, Russia has also increased near-daily missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Putin Digs In

Putin has also continued to show no signs of stopping. “It is meaningless to continue this type of talk (of a ceasefire), given the fierce hostilities,” Putin said during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on Friday. This represents a stalemate for Ukraine, as Russia continues to carry out its destructive campaign against the country.

The destruction of the bridges provided Ukraine with a rare moment of good news against the backdrop of Russia’s relentless bombardment. Russia has yet to comment on the incident. Bridges’ loss will likely complicate logistics and supply for Russia’s Belgorod region and troops along the border. For Ukraine’s 58th Brigade, the two destroyed bridges in Russia may also underscore a more extensive pattern of the war that Kyiv is fighting.

Innovation May Be Needed

The removal of the two bridges and the complete triumph of Ukraine may be only a reflection of the ongoing requirement for Kyiv to improvise in this war. Western supplies are often scarce, and Russian forces outnumber the Ukrainian ones. To make up for this lack of resources, Kyiv has had to innovate with what they have. FPV drones built with commercial parts and upgraded by some volunteers have become one of its most effective ways of fighting.

“The value of these drones cannot be overstated. They allow us to achieve results that would otherwise require weapons we don’t have,” said the 58th Brigade representative. As the war grinds on, Ukraine’s ingenuity and ability to strike and destroy military targets creatively deep inside Russia may be crucial to keeping pace with Moscow’s battlefield advances.