Ukraine is stepping up an air campaign to isolate the Crimea peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, to pressure Moscow. Utilizing a new generation of drones, Kyiv is conducting a methodical campaign targeting road, rail, and energy infrastructure, as well as military facilities. These targets serve as Moscow's key logistics base for its four-year military offensive.
These strikes have caused power outages and fuel shortages across the peninsula. Russian-installed authorities in Crimea have halted fuel distribution during the vacation season as Ukraine continues its effort to isolate the region. A Ukrainian commander stated that these disruptions will prove to be a psychological breaking point for Moscow.
In response, Russia is scrambling to adapt its defenses in Crimea. Meanwhile, Moscow's forces are raining bombs and drones on fortress belt cities such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, even as Kyiv’s fortunes have brightened in other aspects of the war.