War in Ukraine: Kyiv strikes key Russian supply lines

Ukrainian forces are intensifying their efforts to disrupt Russian military operations by targeting crucial supply lines in occupied territories. Utilizing newly developed medium-range weapons and drones, Kyiv aims to sever Russia's logistical capabilities, particularly along the land corridor connecting mainland occupied Ukraine to the Crimean peninsula.

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During the bloody and protracted war from 2022 to 2026, the creation of a land corridor to Crimea was seen as Moscow's greatest potential achievement. But it is now clear that this is a fleeting gain.

Recent Ukrainian military reports, accompanied by online videos purportedly showing destroyed Russian vehicles, suggest that sections of this vital corridor are now under Ukrainian fire control. Ihor Lutsenko, a Ukrainian soldier and co-founder of the Air Intelligence Support Center, posted on Facebook that the creation of this land corridor was once considered Moscow's greatest achievement but is now a "fleeting gain." He added that Ukrainian drones are actively monitoring the corridor, which civilians are reportedly no longer permitted to use, effectively making Crimea an "overseas territory for Russia."

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In reality, Ukrainian drones are already circling over the corridor, which civilians are no longer allowed to use. Crimea is becoming an overseas territory for Russia. Of course, we won't leave it at that.

Mykola Bielieskov, an adviser at the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies, acknowledged that Ukraine does not yet have full control over these routes, which would significantly impact Russian troops in the south. However, he noted a discernible increase in vulnerability among Russian forces and more effective Ukrainian attacks at medium range. "We can't speak of a turning point yet, it just means that the situation isn't getting any worse for us," Bielieskov told DW.

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If we had full control, Russian troops in the south would feel differently.

Military experts attribute Ukraine's recent progress to technological advancements, including the use of drones equipped with AI systems. While these technologies offer a limited window of opportunity, they are forcing Russia to divert resources towards developing countermeasures, such as mobile fire groups and drone defense strategies. Military historian Mykhailo Zhyrokhov explained that any defensive measure Russia implements represents an additional burden on its resources, indirectly benefiting Ukraine.

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The Russians are less active now, even though their area of operations is quite large and there have been heavy attacks.