Residents in occupied Crimea are reportedly stockpiling long-lasting food items amid increasing supply constraints. Local stores have begun imposing restrictions on certain products, while social media platforms feature videos showing empty shelves and long lines. Ukrainian military sources suggest that these supply challenges are just the beginning, predicting further complications for the occupying forces in the region.
Ukrainian forces have systematically targeted logistical routes used by the Russian military. In recent days, drone strikes have hit the Chonhar Bridge, a critical connection between occupied Crimea and Russian-held territories in southern Ukraine.
Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for Occupation Studies, describes the current situation as indicative of panic. He warns that the risk of a food crisis in Crimea is genuine, stating,
“Crimeans need to prepare for a food crisis. Logistic restrictions and supply risks could lead to rising prices and shortages of certain goods.”
Andriushchenko emphasizes that the issue extends beyond food shortages, encompassing fuel supply and overall resource availability on the peninsula. He notes,
“The fuel crisis should not be underestimated. It is already spreading across the territory of the Russian Federation and occupied areas. If this trend continues, serious problems may arise by August.”
Videos circulating online depict civilians transporting fuel in private vehicles. Reports have emerged of a man being detained for filming a concealed fuel truck. Occupying forces are attempting to bypass main routes for fuel transport, but alternative paths are significantly longer, as noted by Refat Chubarov, head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis. He explains,
“There is a route through Kalanchak and Chaplynka from the direction of Kherson. On the other side, there is a route through Armyansk and further to Perekop. However, these roads are of lower quality and much longer than the shortest route through Chonhar to Crimea.”
Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to strike at the logistical routes of the occupiers. In the past week, drones have targeted the Chonhar Bridge twice, a key supply line between occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine. Military expert Vladyslav Selezniov indicates that new Ukrainian drones, known as “Behemoth,” were employed in these attacks.
Selezniov states,
“This is a modern development of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. It has a sufficiently powerful warhead, which resulted in partial destruction of the roadway near the Chonhar Bridge. The challenge for us is that next to the bridge, a pontoon bridge was established by the enemy back in 2023 when Ukrainian forces first struck the Chonhar Bridge using Storm Shadow missiles. Thus, it is evident that the enemy has certain alternative options.”
Following the damage to the Chonhar Bridge, convoys carrying ammunition and fuel have been redirected through the Armyansk area. On June 11, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck a convoy in this region, destroying around 50 trucks, according to Dmytro “Perun” Filatov, commander of the 1st Separate Assault Battalion named after Dmytro Kotsyubailo. He adds,
“We were advised by a commander from one of the enemy brigades: ‘Try going through Armyansk.’ The level of damage is quite high and does not require repeated strikes. The strike on the bridge was executed effectively, and the enemy’s logistics are now being conducted through another route that we are carefully monitoring.”
OSINT analyst Anton Zemlyany summarizes the situation, stating that Ukrainian forces are successfully disrupting Russian logistics. He notes,
“There have been reports of two strikes in the Chonhar Bridge area. Additionally, it was reported that one of the bridges in Henichesk was shelled, but the extent of the damage remains unknown. There have also been reports of strikes on several bridges near Armyansk, from which logistics to temporarily occupied Crimea are also conducted. Currently, the Defense Forces are trying to maximize disruption to the enemy’s logistical capabilities.”
According to Robert Brody, commander of the drone systems, the new operations in the south aim to take control of logistical routes for the Russian army and completely sever supply lines to the occupiers. He asserts,
“We will create conditions that will make it extremely difficult for any military personnel or defense industry workers to remain in Crimea, in temporarily occupied territories, or to use access routes to them.”
Brody believes that the current strikes on logistical routes are just the beginning of a broader campaign to isolate occupied Crimea from supply lines.
Recent supply shortages in Crimea have led to panic buying among residents, as Ukrainian forces intensify strikes on logistical routes. Experts warn of a potential food and fuel crisis as the situation evolves.