Recent developments indicate that Russian military units are modifying their logistics and supply strategies in southern Ukraine. According to Vladislav Voloshin, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, ammunition is now being transported using civilian vehicles with trailers, while personnel are being moved in small groups along secondary roads.
Intelligence reports suggest that Russian forces are planning to position ammunition depots more than 200 kilometers from the frontline. This strategy includes establishing smaller field depots stocked with supplies sufficient for no more than two days of combat.
“All transportation will be conducted, for example, using civilian transport, passenger cars with trailers. Personnel involved in these transports will not wear military uniforms but will be dressed in civilian clothes or in the attire of utility service representatives,”
Voloshin explained.
For the transportation of fuel and lubricants, Russian forces are considering using water transport. They plan to utilize small tankers, barges, and other vessels at the ports of Berdyansk and Skadovsk.
Additionally, personnel movement will occur via secondary roads, employing small vehicles rather than covered trucks or buses, thereby minimizing visibility.
These logistical changes come in the wake of recent Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian supply lines. On June 7, Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked the Chonhar Bridge, which connects occupied Kherson with Crimea. Following the assault, traffic across the bridge was temporarily restored in a reversible mode.
On June 9, the bridge was again targeted by drones, leading to another suspension of traffic. Subsequently, the occupying authorities advised using alternative routes through Armyansk and Perekop.
Reports later confirmed that the Chonhar Bridge was completely destroyed after multiple drone strikes.
Moreover, on June 10, access was blocked to another critical bridge between Henichesk and the Arabat Spit in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region. This marks the second significant crossing to be rendered inoperable in recent days following the Chonhar Bridge incident.
Explosions were also reported in Crimea during the night of June 11, with social media outlets indicating fires in Simferopol and Sevastopol, as well as damage to bridges at land entry points.
For further insights into the strategic implications of losing the Chonhar Bridge and its impact on Russian operations, additional information is available in related analyses.
Russian forces are adapting their supply routes and methods in southern Ukraine, utilizing civilian vehicles and secondary roads to transport ammunition and personnel. This shift follows significant Ukrainian attacks on critical infrastructure, including the Chonhar Bridge, which has been rendered inoperable, complicating Russian logistics.