Ukrainian Military Destroys Bridge Using British Drones HIMARS: A Significant Step in the Fight Against Russian Forces

Ukrainian military forces have successfully executed an operation that involved the use of British drones to destroy a bridge over a tributary of the Dnipro River, which was under the control of Russian forces. This mission has been critically important for the Ukrainian armed forces, and it initially seemed impossible. The details of this operation were reported by the British publication The Telegraph, which published the information on April 7.

The operation, which took place in early 2025, remained unknown until now. The bridge over the Konka River was a significant target, as its destruction would complicate Russian efforts to replenish supplies on islands used for attacks on residential areas and Ukrainian positions in Kherson. The destruction of this bridge marked an important step in the context of the fight against Russian aggression.

The two-month campaign included numerous flights of the heavy drone Malloy T-150, which became the main tool in this operation. The Telegraph notes that this was the first instance in history where a bridge was destroyed using a drone, highlighting the innovative approach of the Ukrainian military to combat operations.

Previously, Ukrainian fighters had attempted to destroy the bridge using American HIMARS missiles, but these attempts were unsuccessful. Colonel Oleksiy Bulakhov, commander of the 426th Marine Corps Drone Systems Regiment of Ukraine, stated, "Bridges are relatively easy to destroy from below, but they are designed in such a way that they are extremely strong from the outside." This indicates the complexity of the task that lay before the Ukrainian military.

The T-150 Malloy drone destroyed the bridge after 30 flights over the course of 60 days. An important factor in this success was a photo posted on Instagram by a Russian soldier. The image revealed the bridge's supports, which exposed structural vulnerabilities of the structure. The Ukrainian military took advantage of this by developing a 50-kilogram cumulative charge that could be lowered via a cable onto the weakest points of the bridge.

After a series of drone strikes, which required a total of one and a half tons of explosives, the bridge suffered significant damage and was ultimately destroyed by a missile strike. This achievement represents a significant milestone for the Ukrainian military, which continues to fight against Russian aggression.

Although Russia still controls the islands on the Dnipro, without the bridge, it must replenish supplies at its positions using boats, which can easily be targeted. This underscores the importance of the bridge's destruction for the Ukrainian armed forces and their strategy in combating Russian troops. The Telegraph concludes that this operation has become a crucial step in Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian aggression.