Ukrainian strikes disrupt Russian logistics and fuel supplies in occupied territories
Ukrainian intermediate-range attacks on key highways and energy sites have hampered Russian supply lines, leading to fuel shortages in Crimea and limited Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have intensified intermediate-range strikes against Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in occupied southern and eastern Ukraine, targeting the M-04 highway that links Moscow with the Black Sea ports and the Caucasus. Drone-enabled operations have reportedly given Ukrainian units fire control over locations such as Luhansk City, Starobilsk, Alchevsk, Bryanka and Kadiivka, all situated near the M-04 corridor. The strikes are expected to produce cascading effects on Russian logistics in the region.
In response, the Luhansk People’s Republic announced a ban on commercial passenger vehicles on its portion of the M-04, while Russian forces altered their Mariupol-Berdyansk supply route to use coastal roads and began camouflaging military trucks as civilian vehicles. These adjustments are likely to slow the movement of supplies.
Gasoline shortages in occupied Crimea have worsened. The Sevastopol occupation governor reported that fuel stations now require pre-purchased QR codes accessed via a state-controlled messaging app, with daily allocations tied to available gasoline volumes. Sales have been limited to 20 liters per vehicle per week, down from a previous daily limit. Officials linked the shortages to Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure and transport routes.
Residents of Crimea have also reported reduced deliveries of basic food items, including buckwheat, sugar, rice and flour. Local authorities have attributed some shortages to seasonal harvesting cycles, though independent sources note the impact of disrupted supply lines.
A Russian drone struck the Centralized Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel near the Chornobyl exclusion zone, causing a fire and damage to the building, though no nuclear material was present at the time. The incident also damaged an International Atomic Energy Agency administrative building.
Russian forces attacked two Ukrainian maritime search-and-rescue vessels in the Black Sea, claiming the boats were conducting humanitarian missions. Ukrainian officials confirmed the vessels were evacuated and emphasized their protected status under international law.
On the ground, Russian offensive operations in Kharkiv, Donetsk and surrounding oblasts continued through June 6-7 but did not achieve confirmed territorial gains. Reports indicated the use of unmanned ground vehicles equipped with North Korean-made rocket launchers and the construction of deep underground tunnels for drone launches. Ukrainian drone strikes also targeted logistics hubs such as Bakhmut, prompting Russian attempts to camouflage warehouses and deploy anti-drone nets.
Overall, Ukrainian strike campaigns have intensified pressure on Russian supply chains, while Russian advances remain limited amid ongoing logistical challenges.
