Ukraine and Russia have exchanged large-scale drone attacks, with Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian supply lines and causing a severe fuel crisis in occupied Crimea. Residents face long queues and 20-litre fuel rations. The attacks, which have damaged key bridges and reduced military cargo traffic by 71%, build on a wider campaign that has disabled nearly 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity. Both sides report civilian casualties from the strikes.
Ukrainian drone strikes on supply routes
- ▪Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its defenses intercepted and destroyed at least 140 Ukrainian drones in several regions overnight
- ▪On two nights in early June, Ukrainian strikes damaged the Chonhar bridge in northern Crimea, a key link used by Russian troops
- ▪Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that at least 11 Ukrainian drones were destroyed by air defenses near the capital
- ▪Since the start of May, Ukraine has carried out 300 drone strikes on trucks, including 30 tankers, on the supply route to Crimea
Crimean fuel shortages
- ▪On June 8, Russia's energy ministry acknowledged "temporary difficulties in fuel supplies" in its southern regions due to air attacks
- ▪At most petrol stations in Crimea, locals can only purchase up to 20 litres (4 gallons) of fuel each using prepaid vouchers
- ▪Ukrainian drone attacks are intensifying a fuel crisis in Russian-occupied Crimea, which was already triggered by strikes on oil refineries
- ▪Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, admitted on June 5 that fuel demand could not be met, causing hundreds of buses to stay in depots
Russian logistical vulnerabilities
- ▪Supply routes to Crimea are constrained as the sea route is considered too dangerous and traffic on the Kerch bridge has been restricted due to Ukrainian attacks
- ▪Military cargo traffic on the key road to Crimea decreased by 71% between late May and early June, according to Ukraine's drone forces commander
- ▪The logistical crisis in Crimea stems from Ukrainian strikes on a key motorway and bridge connecting Rostov, Russia, to Crimea via Mariupol
- ▪A pro-Kremlin military analysis account, Rybar, stated the logistics crisis affects supplies to Russian troops in the south, not just civilians
Ukrainian oil refinery attacks
- ▪An expert from Harvard's Davis Center noted Ukraine is shifting its campaign from large refineries to smaller, local distribution networks for a more concentrated impact
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that nearly 40% of Russia's primary oil refining capacity was disabled in May due to these strikes
- ▪The fuel supply problems in Crimea are exacerbated by Ukraine's long-range strikes against oil refineries and depots inside Russia
Civilian casualties from strikes
- ▪Three people, including a pregnant 22-year-old woman, were killed in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, by an overnight Russian attack
- ▪A Russian strike on Ukraine's Kharkiv region injured at least 15 people and damaged civilian infrastructure
- ▪The Russia-appointed leader of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said a Ukrainian drone strike on a passenger train killed its assistant driver
- ▪Russia fired at least 166 drones at Ukraine in an overnight aerial barrage, with Ukrainian air forces claiming to have destroyed 146 of them
Movement restrictions in occupied territories
- ▪Moscow-installed authorities in occupied Luhansk region banned bus and coach services on two motorways leading to Mariupol and Crimea for security reasons
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