Ukrainian drone strikes have damaged a critical bridge connecting Crimea to the mainland for the second consecutive night, Russian officials reported on Tuesday. The targeted structure, known as the Chonhar bridge, links the Black Sea peninsula with the Russian-occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, according to Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed administrative head of Kherson. He announced the closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic and advised motorists to use an alternative route through the nearby Perekop isthmus, which also connects Crimea with mainland Ukraine.

These attacks form part of a Ukrainian military operation initiated in May, intended to sever Crimea’s logistical connections. Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014 in a move widely condemned internationally, serves as a strategic hub for Russian forces, providing a base for airstrikes within Ukraine and a supply route for troops operating in southern regions.

Despite Russia’s efforts to maintain supply lines, Crimea remains vulnerable due to limited access points. The peninsula is primarily connected via three routes: the Chonhar bridge and the Perekop isthmus to the north, and the Kerch bridge to the east, which links Crimea directly to the Russian mainland. However, the Kerch bridge is reportedly deemed unsuitable for transporting fuel via rail or road. Additionally, several ferry routes between Russia and Crimea have been disrupted following Ukrainian attacks.

In response, Moscow constructed a new coastal road along the Sea of Azov to facilitate supply deliveries to Crimea. Nevertheless, Ukrainian medium-range drones have succeeded in locating and destroying military and fuel convoys along this route. As a result of the ongoing disruption to supply lines, fuel rationing has been implemented on the peninsula, which also functions as a popular vacation destination within Russia.

In a separate incident overnight, Russian missile and drone attacks targeted the town of Chuhuiv in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region. Local authorities reported at least three fatalities and three injuries. The Ukrainian Air Force stated that by morning it had detected 168 Russian drones and missiles, successfully intercepting 148 of them.