Ukraine drone strikes tighten fuel squeeze on Crimea amid broader logistics attacks

Ukraine’s ongoing drone campaign against Russian-occupied territories has increasingly targeted the road and bridge network that links the Russian city of Rostov with Crimea via Mariupol. Analysts say more than 300 drone strikes on trucks, including about 30 tankers, have been recorded since early May, with the pace rising in June. The attacks have curtailed the flow of fuel to the peninsula, leading to long lines at petrol stations and a limit of 20 litres per purchase where fuel is available.

Kremlin-appointed regional head Sergei Aksyonov acknowledged on 5 June that the current supply situation cannot meet demand, noting that many buses remain grounded because of shortages. The sea route to Crimea is considered unsafe after Ukrainian actions against ferries, and the Kerch Bridge has faced threats that deter truck traffic, according to oil-industry expert Craig Kennedy.

Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries have also reduced the country’s refining capacity, with President Volodymyr Zelensky estimating a 40 % loss in May. Experts say the focus has shifted from large refineries to smaller distribution points, amplifying the impact on local populations and military units in regions such as Crimea.

The logistics pressure extends to other occupied areas, including Luhansk and Kherson, where Ukrainian drone units report limited resistance from Russian air defenses. Russian officials and pro-Kremlin analysts claim the strikes affect both civilian and military fuel supplies, while Ukrainian commanders describe disrupting Russian logistics as a primary objective.