KIEV (November 28): Ukraine’s military destroyed two bridges in Russia’s Belgorod region in a brazen attack that showcased the rising potency of inexpensive first-person-view (FPV) drones in combat.

Footage released by the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, which is credited with the strike, shows two drones flying to a bridge near the Ukrainian border and detonating after one of the drones’ cameras spots a cache of Russian mines and ammunition under the bridge.

The drones attack had targeted a pair of bridges which Ukrainian officials said were being used by the Russian military to resupply its forces in the Kharkiv region, which borders Belgorod.

In a statement, the 58th Brigade revealed that it had chosen the drones for the attack because of interference which meant that its regular reconnaissance drones could not operate under the bridge without losing signal.

In total, the two drones used in the mission cost between 25,000 and 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias (Ukrn), or approximately $600-$725.

Under normal circumstances, striking a target so deep inside Russia would have required guided missiles or precision bombs, and particularly expensive ones at that.

To date, Ukraine has relied on U.S.-supplied HIMARS systems to hit targets in Russia’s Kursk region, some 150 km (93 miles) from the border. Each HIMARS launcher costs millions of dollars, while each rocket costs tens of thousands.

The Belgorod bridges were destroyed by drones, however, that cost less than a smartphone.

Cheap Drones Play Big Role on Battlefield

The operation underscores the growing role of inexpensive drones in the current conflict in Ukraine, which have given Kyiv the ability to hit targets far inside Russian territory without having to expend the country’s most expensive and limited Western-supplied munitions.

The recent attacks on the Belgorod bridges are not the first time that Kyiv has turned to drones for maximum effect either.

In June, Ukrainian forces used commercial drones smuggled close to Russian airbases to attack dozens of aircraft, destroying or damaging them.

“In operations like these, even a relatively unsophisticated drone can be used to produce massive effect,” military analyst Mykola Bielieskov told CNN. FPV drones are a cost-effective way for Ukraine to attempt to level the playing field in the war, Bielieskov said, given the size of Russia’s ammunition stockpiles.

Moment of Victory Amid Dark Times for Ukraine

The two bridges are the latest success story for Ukraine’s military, which has in recent weeks faced a series of challenges along the frontline.

After months of near-static fighting, Russian forces have in recent weeks been slowly grinding forward in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow has also continued its campaign of near-daily missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities, particularly in the west.

In recent days, Russian President Vladimir Putin has also ratcheted up his rhetoric by saying that he would refuse to agree to a ceasefire and ordering his military to continue the offensive.

As such, the news of the Belgorod bridge destruction in Russia offered a rare victory in an otherwise difficult time for Ukraine.

So far, Russia has not commented publicly on the attacks.

The strikes will, however, make it more difficult for Moscow to conduct logistics in the Belgorod region, as the destroyed bridges were also used to supply ammunition and fuel to Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.

Creativity Key in Ongoing Battle

For the Ukrainian military, the Belgorod bridge strikes are a reminder that in the current conflict, innovation has been key.

Kyiv has often had to do more with less, as its Western supplies have often been limited while Russian forces continue to outnumber Ukrainian troops in many sectors.

FPV drones, assembled from commercial parts and often modified by volunteers for military use, have become one of Kyiv’s most potent weapons.

“In my opinion, the value of these FPV drones cannot be overestimated. They help us to achieve results which it is often impossible to get by any other means due to the unavailability of weapons,” a representative for the 58th Brigade said.

As the war in Ukraine continues to drag on, Kyiv’s ability to be creative in the way it strikes deep inside Russia will likely become increasingly important in countering Moscow’s battlefield advantages.

In the meantime, two destroyed bridges in the Belgorod region of Russia are a testament to the fact that even relatively small and inexpensive weapons can have strategic impact.