Ukraine steps up campaign to isolate Crimea and heap pressure on Putin

War in UkraineUkraine steps up campaign to isolate Crimea and heap pressure on PutinUkraine is after “total resource and logistical exhaustion” on the Black Sea peninsula, according to the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleUkrainian military releases video showing strikes in Russian-held Crimea00:18Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 23, 2026, 12:46 PM EDTBy Yuliya TalmazanWave after wave of strikes that have caused fuel shortages and power outages on the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula will prove a “psychological breaking point” for Moscow, according to the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Alongside its wider campaign of drone strikes deep inside Russia, Ukraine has stepped up its effort to isolate Crimea and has, for weeks, been striking a key highway linking the mainland with the peninsula, precipitating a fuel crisis that led to miles-long lineups for gas before civilian fuel sales were completely halted Sunday.Ukraine is after “total resource and logistical exhaustion,” Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said in a Telegram post Sunday, adding that it was targeting Crimea’s transport, energy and tourism sectors. Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin directly, he added: “It will never be the same again.” Footage released by Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, on Sunday appears to show an oil depot on fire in Kerch, Crimea.Robert Brovdi / TelegramPutin, who has called Crimea a “sacred place,” illegally annexed the diamond-shaped Black Sea peninsula in 2014 after Russian troops in uniforms without insignia overran it. Only a few countries, including North Korea, recognized it. Its occupation was a key symbolic victory for the Russian president and is viewed by many in Ukraine as a precursor to his eventua...