Ukraine is increasing pressure on occupied Crimea and Russian military logistics, systematically targeting fuel infrastructure and supply routes. According to the German publication WELT, the consequences of these attacks are already so significant that even Kremlin officials are forced to speak out about fuel shortages on the peninsula.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, recently, drones attacked one of the largest oil terminals in southern Russia, as well as an oil depot and other fuel facilities in occupied Crimea. The publication notes that such strikes are part of Kyiv's strategy aimed at inflicting maximum economic and military damage on Russia.

Just last week, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly ridiculed Ukrainian drone attacks and declared Russia's victory inevitable. However, as the author of this article notes, the reality increasingly contradicts such statements.

One of Ukraine's main goals remains the so-called land corridor connecting Russian territory with the occupied regions of southern Ukraine, particularly Crimea. At the same time, the prospects of completely capturing the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions, which Moscow declared annexed back in 2022, appear increasingly unrealistic.

Against this backdrop, Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory have not only a practical but also a symbolic effect. Former US Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges wrote on the social media platform X that the situation is extremely painful for Moscow. He stated, "It is absolutely humiliating for the Russian military and government that Ukrainian drones are flying almost unimpeded through Russian airspace."

The author recalls that the current strikes were preceded by extensive preparation. For over a year, Ukrainian forces systematically destroyed Russian radars and air defense systems in Crimea. This allowed for the creation of safe corridors for drone flights both over the peninsula and in other areas. It's telling that after the latest attacks, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov effectively acknowledged fuel shortages on the peninsula. He stated, "Indeed, certain problems currently exist." According to the American Institute for the Study of War, the Russian offensive has slowed on most fronts, and in some areas, Russian units are even retreating. Experts also claim that in April and May, Russia lost more territory than it gained, a situation unprecedented since 2023.

Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Third Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, believes that the next six to nine months could be a turning point in the war. At the same time, he emphasizes, to achieve this, Ukraine must maintain the current pressure on Russian logistics and military infrastructure.