Ukraine announced that attacks carried out with medium-range unmanned aerial vehicles have seriously disrupted Russian military logistics in the occupied southern regions. According to the statement, hundreds of fuel trucks were targeted, land and rail shipments were interrupted, and movement along routes leading to Crimea significantly decreased.
The operation, named "Logistics Lockdown" by Ukraine, targets supply lines behind the front lines. The attacks were reported to be especially focused on routes to Crimea via Mariupol and transportation hubs in the occupied southern Ukraine.
Trucks, bridges, and crossings targeted
Ukraine reported that the attacks were effective around the E-58 highway and the Chonhar and Dzhankoi bridges. Temporary bridges, marshland crossings, and lines of trucks were also targeted.
Released footage showed attacks on cargo vehicles moving along the Novoazovsk-Mariupol-Melitopol-Crimea route. According to the statement, this route is critically important for Russia’s military and logistical shipments to Crimea.
The Ukrainian side said that in the first half of June alone, over 300 burned or damaged truck wrecks were identified along this route. It was also noted that more than a hundred air attacks and sorties were carried out in the occupied south during the same period.
Access to and from Crimea largely closed
Officials appointed by the occupying authorities acknowledged that most roads entering and exiting Crimea from the north have become unusable. Drivers were warned to use alternative routes, but subsequent attacks created new gaps on these roads as well.
Following this, civilian traffic was completely banned on main routes, and the use of secondary roads was limited to daylight hours only. Local sources also reported that driving became even more difficult on some roads due to mine threats.
Rail traffic was also affected by the attacks. Most passenger trains between the mainland and Crimea have stopped, with passengers being transferred to buses at certain points.
Fuel shortages and price increases spread
After the attacks, fuel shortages deepened in Crimea and the occupied eastern and southern regions. Some stations were unable to sell fuel, while those that did saw long queues and rising prices.
Fuel prices reportedly rose 40 to 60 percent above government-set levels, with black market prices climbing even higher. The impact of fuel restrictions and queues was not limited to Crimea but also affected some Russian regions.
Message from the Ukrainian front
The commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said that Russian vehicle traffic in the occupied southern Ukraine decreased by 71 percent in the first two weeks. The commander emphasized that the goal is to render Russia’s military supply routes unusable.
The Ukrainian Navy spokesperson added that Russian air defenses have been worn down by months of attacks, allowing drones freer access to occupied areas. The spokesperson noted that striking radar stations in particular has weakened defense systems.
Ukraine argues that these operations are not a one-day result but the outcome of a long-term systematic pressure. The Kyiv administration expects Russian logistics in the occupied south to continue facing similar attacks in the future.
