Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Disrupts Key Russian Supply Line in Crimea A new Ukrainian drone campaign is targeting the R-280 highway, a 390-mile supply route linking southern Russia, occupied Crimea, and Ukrainian territories under Moscow’s control. The attack has severely disrupted Russian logistics, causing fuel shortages and creating a crisis in Crimea. The highway, known as “Novorossiya” or “New Russia,” serves as a critical artery for transporting fuel, food, and military equipment to Russian forces in the region. Ukrainian strikes on convoys and infrastructure have left fuel stations in Crimea operating under strict rationing, with residents describing the process of obtaining gas as akin to winning a lottery. A tutor in Sevastopol, speaking to NBC News, said she had abandoned attempts to refuel her car, citing frustration with the government-issued voucher system. “I don’t want to waste my time,” she said, highlighting the growing desperation among civilians. Russian officials have attempted to downplay the crisis, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledging “certain problems” but attributing fuel shortages to “unfounded panic-buying.” However, residents and analysts argue that the real issue lies in Russia’s inability to maintain supply lines under sustained drone attacks. Evgeniy, a transport security worker in Simferopol, noted that the scarcity of fuel is exacerbated by black-market resellers exploiting the situation. “If people didn’t try to make an extra buck by reselling gas, it wouldn’t be as bad,” he said. The R-280 highway is a strategic lifeline for Russia, serving as an alternative to the Kerch Bridge, a key supply route repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian forces. Russian-installed officials in southern Ukraine have accused Kyiv of using drones to drop mines on the highway, creating the illusion of a blockade.#russia #ukraine #crimea #sevastopol #simferopol
Ukraine Intensifies Strikes on Russian Supply Lines and Fuel Infrastructure in Crimea, While Russia Expands Northern Bases Ukrainian forces have continued to disrupt critical supply routes connecting occupied Kherson Oblast to Crimea, targeting bridges and logistics corridors to hinder Russian military operations. On June 11, Kherson Oblast occupation head Vladimir Saldo reported that Ukrainian strikes had damaged several key bridges, including those over the North Crimean Canal near Preobrazhenka and Myrne, the Perekop-Armyansk Road Bridge, and the Stavky Road Bridge. These bridges, which run along the M-17 Armyansk-Oleshky highway, are vital for Russian forces transporting fuel and ammunition to occupied Crimea. Saldo claimed the strikes caused unspecified damage, while a Ukrainian regiment commander confirmed that attacks on the Armyansk route had destroyed or damaged approximately 50 Russian military cargo vehicles. The strikes were part of a broader campaign to sever Russian supply lines. Ukrainian forces reportedly targeted the Chonhar bridge, which connects Kherson to Crimea, after previous strikes on June 7–8 and June 9 damaged the bridge. Russian authorities temporarily closed traffic through Chonhar on June 9 due to the damage. The commander noted that prior Ukrainian strikes on Mariupol and the Berdyansk road had forced Russian forces to divert supplies via Crimea’s GLOCs instead of routes from occupied Donetsk Oblast. Satellite imagery published on June 10 showed the aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on bridges south of Henichesk and near Armyansk, further disrupting Russian logistics.#russia #ukraine #crimea #kherson_oblast #sevastopol
