러시아 탈출 행렬만 15km…자국민 무덤이 되어버린 크림반도 [지금이뉴스] / YTN

The British daily Telegraph reported on the 11th (local time) that as Ukraine launches an offensive to sever the connection between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, the peninsula is turning from a "trophy" for Russian President Vladimir Putin into a "burden." Ukraine is conducting land, sea, and air operations to isolate the Crimean Peninsula and cut off supply lines between Russia and the occupied southern Ukrainian territories. Drones are being deployed to major roads and railways connecting the Crimean Peninsula with the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian mainland, including the Chonkhar Bridge, Armyansk Bridge, and North Crimean Canal Bridge. The R-280 Novorossiya Highway, a logistical route connecting Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, is also being referred to as the "Road of Death" due to the continued attacks. Ukraine is launching massive attacks on fuel depots on both sides of the Kerch Bridge—which was the subject of a major airstrike in 2022—as well as ports and oil tankers and other vessels in the Azov Sea. It has also been targeting energy infrastructure facilities in the Crimean Peninsula, including the Sevastopol substation and the Taurika thermal power plant. Last month, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mihailo Fedorov warned, "Crimea is being isolated by drones. Before long, the peninsula will become an island," adding, "The real hell for Russia has just begun." The Telegraph reported that since then, lines of residents and tourists attempting to escape beyond checkpoints in the Crimean Peninsula have stretched as long as 15 kilometers, and many Russian companies have shut down, unable to cope with high operating costs and fuel shortages. Ukraine stated that it had bombed 50 energy facilities between the beginning of this month and the 8th. Power outages have persisted for a significant portion of the week, and due to water shortages, supplies are being provided for only about an hour a day. With Russian authorities halting private fuel trading, illegal oil transactions are reportedly taking place across Crimea via Telegram and e-commerce platforms, with prices reaching $25 per gallon. Anton Zemlyany, a senior analyst at the Center for Security and Cooperation in Ukraine, analyzed that this offensive by Ukraine is actually impacting the Russian military's ability to utilize Crimea as a key outpost in the occupied territory and a major military base in the south. More than this battlefield disruption, there is an atmosphere in Ukraine hoping to erode public trust in the Kremlin's war efforts. Immediately after the forced annexation of Crimea in 2014, President Putin's approval rating neared 86%, but it stood at 66% in a survey conducted earlier this month. Contrary to the Kremlin's claims, Ukraine aims to make Russians question why Russia has become so vulnerable to Ukrainian air power. Minister Fedorov noted that the success rate of Ukraine's medium-range strike operations quadrupled from February to May of this year and again in June, citing the advancement of drone warfare technology as the underlying factor. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized in a recent interview with the Financial Times (FT), referring to Ukraine's medium-to-long-range strike capabilities, "We have entered the air domain. We are already competitive in the skies." Audio | AI Anchor Produced by | Lee Mi-young #ThisNews ▶ Original Article: https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0545_202607... ▶ Report a Tip: https://mj.ytn.co.kr/mj/mj_write.php ▣ Subscribe to YTN YouTube Channel: http://goo.gl/Ytb5SZ ⓒ YTN Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use of AI data are prohibited.