EXPLAINED: Ukraine’s Mid-Range Drone Strikes vs. Russia - Damage Done and What’s Next

Key Points:

• Ukraine's air campaign, known as "Logistical Lockdown," uses mid-range drones to target Russian military supply routes in occupied southern Ukraine, significantly disrupting logistics and placing Crimea under near-total blockade.
• Since late April, hundreds of Russian fuel trucks have been destroyed, with over 300 truck wrecks observed along key highways in June, severely limiting Russian vehicle traffic by about 71% in the region.
• Ukrainian drones have damaged critical infrastructure such as causeways and bridges near Crimea, leading to road closures, restricted civilian traffic, and halted passenger train services between mainland Russia and Crimea.
• The campaign has caused severe fuel shortages and rationing in occupied territories, with fuel prices soaring and black market activity increasing, while Russian authorities struggle to maintain supply and infrastructure.
• Ukrainian officials credit sustained efforts to degrade Russian air defenses for enabling drone dominance, predicting continued logistical challenges for Russia and suggesting Crimea may become untenable for Russian occupation in the long term.