Ukraine drone strikes are methodically cutting Crimea off from Russia — Euronews analysis
An open-source intelligence analysis by Euronews shows that over the past six weeks Ukraine's targeted drone strikes have disabled the Kerch bridge and two rail lines through Krasnodar, narrowing land supply lines to Crimea. Black Sea grain corridor traffic is continuing.
According to the Euronews open-source intelligence analysis, since 1 May Ukrainian drone strikes launched across the Black Sea have closed the Kerch bridge rail line and disabled two main lines through Krasnodar to Anapa and Novorossiysk. An Open Source Centre report shows Russian military supply density to the Crimean peninsula has dropped 40%.
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) spokesperson Andriy Yusov said in a statement that "the operational objective is not conventional attack but disrupting supply discipline." Russia's Defence Ministry said in a written statement that "the lines are temporarily suspended and repairs will be completed within 72 hours." RUSI analyst Justin Crump told Euronews that "the bridge-rail link is a single point of failure."
The Black Sea grain corridor continues to operate under the UN Safe Passage Mechanism; 32 vessel transits were recorded in mid-June on the Odessa-Istanbul route. The EU's 18th sanctions package will include additional marine-insurance restrictions on Russia's Black Sea fleet. Brent crude rose 0.4% on the news to $77.30 a barrel. Not investment advice.
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