Ukraine Cuts Power to 350,000 in Sevastopol as 620-Mile Bars Drones Press Crimea Isolation
Updated
Updated · EL PAÍS USA · Jul 5
Ukraine Cuts Power to 350,000 in Sevastopol as 620-Mile Bars Drones Press Crimea Isolation
3 articles · Updated · EL PAÍS USA · Jul 5
Summary
June 24 strikes knocked out Sevastopol’s main power station, cutting electricity to Crimea’s largest city of about 350,000 people in one of Ukraine’s clearest blows yet against the occupied peninsula.
Kyiv is pairing energy attacks inside Russia with repeated strikes on roads, railways, ferries and other links to Crimea in an isolation campaign aimed at weakening Russian logistics and military support.
Ukrainian officials and analysts say the push is being enabled by faster domestic weapons development and Russian air-defense shortages; Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov said drones now cause more than 90% of enemy losses.
Bars-SM missile-drones are part of that arsenal, with a range of up to 620 miles, while experts say the broader goal is to sever Crimea from Russian resupply—especially by eventually disabling the Kerch Strait bridge.
Ukraine's drones are crippling Russia's oil industry. Can Putin's war machine survive a nationwide fuel crisis?
As Ukraine's drones advance, Russia is diverting them towards NATO. Is this a desperate bluff or a new front in the war?
Ukraine’s underground factories now build millions of drones. Can this tech revolution truly liberate Crimea?
Crimea Under Siege: The Impact of Ukraine’s June 2026 Drone Campaign on Russian Control and Civilian Life
Overview
In late June 2026, Crimea faced a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks, with the Tavriyska thermal power plant as a key target. Russian air defenses responded, but Ukrainian drones struck successfully, causing visible damage. Residents reported unusual black oil rain and thick smoke in the aftermath, though Moscow denied these claims. These attacks highlight Ukraine’s growing technological edge and strategic focus on disrupting Russian logistics and infrastructure in Crimea. The strikes not only challenged Russia’s control but also led to significant disruptions in civilian life, marking a turning point in the ongoing conflict.