Over the weekend, the Ukrainian Armed Forces executed a series of significant strikes on various targets in occupied Crimea. The operations primarily targeted gas stations, oil terminals, air defense systems, and logistical facilities.
Key developments include:
- Four gas compressor stations were hit across Crimea, along with an attack on a bridge over the Henichesk Strait.
- The oil terminal in Kerch and the Caucasus port in Krasnodar were destroyed, while four S-400 radar systems and two Pantsir systems were also targeted.
- The Crimean Bridge was closed twice over the weekend due to drone attacks.
- Since June 21, the sale of gasoline at all gas stations in occupied Crimea has been completely halted.
- Explosions and blackouts were reported in Armyansk, Feodosia, and other cities on the night of June 22.
Commander of the Special Operations Forces, Robert Brovdi, known as “Madyar,” reported the outcomes of the strikes, detailing damage to four gas compressor stations located in Zhuravlivka, Aromatne, Kliuchi, and Lokhivka. Additionally, a bridge connecting Crimea to the conflict zone was attacked, which the occupying forces were using for troop supply.
On June 21, the Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that the TESS-Terminal-1 oil terminal in Kerch, a crucial fuel storage site for Russian occupying forces, was hit, resulting in a fire. The Caucasus port, which facilitates maritime transport between mainland Russia and Crimea, also caught fire.
President Volodymyr Zelensky provided details on the operation, stating that strikes were conducted approximately 300 kilometers from the front line and involved units from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), drone forces, military intelligence (HUR), and special operations forces. He noted that both sides of the Crimean Bridge were affected, targeting maritime logistics for oil transport in the Krasnodar region and the oil depot in temporarily occupied Kerch.
“I am grateful to all our warriors for their accuracy and professionalism. Only strength is understood by Russia, and our long-range capabilities are effectively working for peace,” he concluded.
The occupying forces were compelled to halt traffic on the Crimean Bridge immediately following two nighttime attacks on June 21 and 22. Residents in Kerch, Bakhchisarai, Sevastopol, Simferopol, and other areas reported hearing explosions and the activation of air defense systems.
In Feodosia, observers noted a fire between fuel depots, while explosions were heard near the FSB border service in Armyansk.
The strikes have also impacted civilians in the occupied region. On June 21, the Crimean authorities announced a complete cessation of fuel sales at gas stations, applicable to both cash and cashless transactions, with fuel now only available to state entities managing critical infrastructure.
Following the explosions on June 22, power outages occurred in several cities, with reports indicating that the Tavriiskaya Thermal Power Plant was affected.
Additionally, the authorities in occupied Crimea announced that no children would be admitted to summer camps throughout the summer, citing “security concerns” as the official reason.
Commander Madyar commented on the situation, stating, “Moscow and the bunker grandpa will cling to Crimea as the main trophy of the war, even in a state of isolation. This is, of course, a pillar of the ideology of greatness and a heap of perks.” He outlined a grim future for Crimea, predicting resource depletion, logistical collapse, and energy shortages.
According to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine is conducting a systematic campaign against occupying forces in Crimea. Analysts believe that each new strike on the Kerch Strait brings the peninsula closer to logistical collapse and gradually severs its ties with Russia.
Ukrainian forces have launched a series of impactful strikes on key military and logistical targets in occupied Crimea, significantly affecting the region's infrastructure and operations. The ongoing campaign aims to disrupt Russian supply lines and diminish their operational capabilities.