In a bold and strategically significant move, Ukrainian forces used low-cost drones to destroy Russian-planted mines beneath two key bridges in the Kharkiv region earlier this month. The dramatic operation, which took place on August 23, was captured on video and has since garnered international attention for both its precision and implications.

Strategic Bridges Targeted

According to the Ukrainian military, the two bridges near the border of the Kharkiv region held considerable value for Russian logistics, acting as vital resupply corridors for their troops. Their destruction marks a significant disruption to Russian operations in the area.

CNN reported that these bridges were heavily mined by Russian forces as a defensive measure, in anticipation of a Ukrainian advance. These explosives, however, became the exact target of Ukraine’s operation.

Drones Deliver Devastating Results

The 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of Ukraine confirmed that they employed first-person-view (FPV) drones—relatively inexpensive but highly effective tools of modern warfare—to carry out the strike.

A brigade spokesperson explained that they first noticed suspicious activity around the bridges, which led them to believe that something was hidden beneath them. Traditional reconnaissance drones were ineffective due to signal interference under the structure. As a result, they deployed fiber-optic FPV drones to get a clearer view of the situation.

“It became clear that something was going on there,” the spokesperson noted. “We couldn’t fly a regular reconnaissance drone under the bridge because the signal would simply disappear, so we flew in with a first-person-view drone equipped with fiber optics.”

Once the presence of Russian mines was confirmed, the Ukrainian forces seized the opportunity to inflict maximum damage. Footage from the drone shows it approaching a bridge where a stack of uncovered explosives had been placed. The video ends abruptly as the drone makes direct contact with the explosives, causing a massive detonation.

A second clip, recorded from a distance, shows the scale of the explosion, with flames and debris erupting into the sky as the drone’s impact triggers the mine cache.

Low-Cost Weapons, High Impact

What’s particularly notable about this operation is the cost-effectiveness of the technology involved. According to Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi, the drones used were fitted with TM-62 anti-tank mines and cost between 25,000 and 30,000 hryvnias, or roughly $600–$725 USD.

This stands in stark contrast to earlier Ukrainian efforts to destroy Russian bridges using Western-supplied HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), which cost millions. For instance, Germany reportedly paid around $30 million to supply Ukraine with just three HIMARS units from the United States in 2024.

The success of this operation highlights how inexpensive, agile technologies are shifting the balance on the battlefield, enabling Ukraine to carry out high-impact missions without the need for costly equipment.

Broader Context and Escalation Concerns

The strike on these bridges is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russian supply lines and undermine their control over occupied territories. Just months earlier, Ukraine targeted the Kerch Bridge, a 12-mile-long structure connecting mainland Russia to Crimea. That attack, orchestrated by Ukraine’s SBU security service in June, involved a massive underwater explosion that temporarily halted traffic.

This marks the third time Ukraine has attacked the Kerch Bridge since 2022, signaling its persistent effort to sever key logistical links and isolate Russian forces in Crimea.

Rising Global Tensions

The latest strike also comes amid heightened fears of a broader conflict, with some commentators and political figures warning about the risk of global escalation. On August 25, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested renaming the U.S. Department of Defense to the “Department of War,” claiming that the current title is “too defensive.”

“Defense is too defensive,” Trump stated. “We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive, too—if we have to be.”

Trump recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in an attempt to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing war. While no agreement was reached, Trump expressed optimism about a potential resolution, saying, “we have a very good chance of getting there.”

Following the meeting, Trump hosted leaders from Europe, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, at the White House to discuss paths toward peace.

Conclusion

As Ukraine continues to innovate on the battlefield, utilizing cost-effective drone warfare to deliver precision strikes, Russia faces increasing pressure on its supply routes and defensive positions. While the international community watches closely, the situation remains volatile, with each attack contributing to a broader narrative of resistance, resilience, and rising geopolitical stakes.