Ukraine Uses $600 Drones to Destroy Russian Bridges Loaded With Mines

Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the destruction of two strategically important bridges inside Russia, using inexpensive drones to detonate stockpiled mines hidden by Moscow’s military.

According to Ukraine’s 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, the two bridges in Russia’s Belgorod region were critical supply routes for Russian forces fighting near Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Russian troops had mined the bridges, intending to destroy them if Ukrainian forces advanced. But Ukrainian soldiers instead used the explosives against them.

Drone footage shared with CNN shows a small first-person-view drone approaching one of the bridges, revealing a stash of anti-tank mines and ammunition hidden underneath. Moments later, the drone hit the stockpile, triggering a massive blast that demolished the bridge. A second bridge nearby was later struck in a similar fashion.

“We saw an opportunity and took it,” a representative from the brigade said.

The operation underscores how cheap technology is reshaping the battlefield. The drones used in the attacks cost as little as $600 each, a fraction of the price of Western-supplied missiles like HIMARS, which cost tens of thousands of dollars per round. Despite their low cost, the strikes achieved significant results, cutting off key Russian resupply routes.

Ukraine has previously used small drones for large-scale impact. In June, Ukrainian forces damaged or destroyed dozens of Russian aircraft by sneaking drones near military airfields.

The destruction of the bridges comes as Ukrainian troops struggle to hold the front lines against Russia’s ongoing advance. President Vladimir Putin has continued to resist ceasefire talks, while Moscow carries out near-daily airstrikes against Ukrainian cities.

Russia has not commented on the bridge attacks.

For Ukraine, the strikes are being hailed as a morale boost in a conflict where every tactical success matters.

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