The logistical crisis of the occupation forces: a tactical dimension for the Armed Forces of Ukraine

After the attacks of Ukrainian troops on Russian rear logistics, the enemy’s offensive capabilities have been significantly reduced. And on certain sections of the front, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have achieved tactical successes.

The blockade of key transport arteries of Crimea and deep-water ports of the Sea of Azov turned into a logistical collapse for the occupation army.

It should be noted that until recently, Crimea was the main logistical component of the Russian occupation army. It was about the possibility of transferring personnel, fuel and lubricants, ammunition, and heavy armored vehicles from the rear areas of Russia in Taman by rail ferries in the direction of Zaporizhia and Kherson regions through the occupied Crimea. Plus, Crimea was used as a base for accumulating the same ammunition and fuel and lubricants. Currently, the occupiers do not have such an opportunity.

I recall that the last of the railway ferries, namely the “Slavyanin”, was destroyed by drones of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in April 2026.

What is happening now is that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are cutting off the occupied Crimea from mainland Ukraine. The strikes are being carried out both directly on the Chongar Isthmus and on the Chongar and Armian bridges. That is, in fact, we are talking about paralyzing the logistics of the Russian occupiers and the inability to use Crimea as a base for accumulation. Moreover, I note that the occupiers themselves recognize serious logistical problems at the time of redeployment of personnel, ammunition, food, water and, most importantly, fuel and lubricants directly to the line of contact.

Not only the logistics system of occupied Crimea, but also the port infrastructure of occupied Mariupol and Berdyansk were under fire control. These deep-water ports on the Sea of Azov were actively used by Russian troops as key logistics hubs.

In this regard, the occupiers have serious problems on the front line. The strikes by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on Russian logistics have led to the fact that the occupiers are now unable to conduct active combat operations.

They cannot redeploy personnel, conduct rotations, evacuate the wounded, bring in ammunition, fuel, and lubricants. Without all of this, the active phase of the occupation forces’ combat operations is impossible.

Blocking logistics in the enemy’s rear gives the Ukrainian defenders the opportunity to intensify military operations. Thus, in the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Defense Forces have a number of serious tactical successes in the area of the villages of Stepnohirsk, Primorske, and Kamianske. In the area of occupied Kamianske, Ukrainian units are attacking the flanks of the Russian troops, creating serious problems for the Russian group.

In addition, at the junction of three regions — Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk — in recent weeks, the Defense Forces of Ukraine, thanks to the blocking of the occupiers’ logistics, managed to conduct successful raids and de-occupy up to 47 sq. km. At the same time, Ukraine’s territorial losses for the entire month of May amounted to only 14 sq. km.

As we can see, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are gradually seizing the initiative on certain sections of the front.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have intensified strikes on the rear logistics of the occupiers not only in the southern direction, but also in the captured parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. As well as on the territory of Russia – primarily in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, where rear bases of fuel and lubricants, field ammunition depots, and command and staff points are located.

And, as a result, in the Lyman direction of the front over the past few days, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have achieved serious tactical successes.

Thanks to the blockade of Russian logistics, the Defense Forces of Ukraine cleared Zelenaya Dolyna and Shandryholovy. 11.7 sq. km were deoccupied. Plus, the Defense Forces of Ukraine advanced east of Rai-Oleksandrivka — this is the Slavic direction of the front. And most importantly, the Armed Forces of Ukraine knocked the enemy out of three settlements — Drobysheve, Novoselivka and Derylove (Lyman direction). As we can see, the defenders of Ukraine managed to achieve serious tactical successes thanks to the so-called transport lockdown of the enemy.

Moreover, the further advance of the occupiers in this direction was stopped. And this was one of the most difficult sections of the front for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

In addition, as a result of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strikes on the logistics of the Russian troops, the enemy’s advance in the area of the village of Hryshyne and the town of Rodynske in the Pokrov direction was practically stopped.

The occupiers recognize the fact that in the Hryshynye area, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting successful countermeasures to prevent the expansion of the Russian presence.

In my opinion, the tactic of scaling up strikes on the operational rear areas of the Russian troops can have a very serious impact on the further course of hostilities. And the occupying country will be deprived of the opportunity to use the military component during negotiations for political pressure on both the American and Ukrainian sides. And the Russian dictator has repeatedly stated that control of the occupation forces over the entire Donetsk region is the main point of the Russian “peace proposals”. And if Ukraine does not give up this region diplomatically, then Russia will seize it militarily. But, as we see, now the situation on the front line has changed in the most serious way.