Commodities June 1, 2026 02:20 PM

Zelenskiy: Ukrainian Forces Can Target Russian Supply Lines Across Occupied Territories

President says strikes have disrupted fuel deliveries, including gasoline rationing in Crimea

By Nina Shah

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces are now able to strike Russian military logistics through much of the occupied areas of Ukraine, contributing to fuel shortages in Crimea and other regions under Russian control. He reported intensified attacks on oil industry targets and said Ukrainian troops hit 15 Russian oil refineries from January through May.

Zelenskiy: Ukrainian Forces Can Target Russian Supply Lines Across Occupied Territories

Key Points

  • Ukrainian forces are reported to be able to strike Russian military logistics across most occupied territories, reducing safe transit routes in the south and east.
  • From January to May, Ukrainian strikes hit 15 Russian oil refineries, reflecting a targeted focus on Russia's oil industry and related supply chains.
  • Fuel shortages have emerged in Crimea and other occupied areas, exemplified by gasoline rationing on the peninsula after drone attacks restricted road deliveries.

On June 1, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine's military has reached an operational capability to strike Russian logistics across large swathes of territory under occupation, producing tangible supply shortages in some Russian-held areas.

In his nightly video message, Zelenskiy described the widening reach of Ukrainian forces against supply infrastructure. He said Ukrainian troops could now "reach Russian military logistics across virtually the entire depth of the temporarily occupied territories."

"Our troops are now capable of reaching Russian military logistics across virtually the entire depth of the temporarily occupied territories,"

He added that in practical terms the result of these operations is a significant erosion of safe transit routes for Russian forces in the south and east. "In practice, there are almost no safe roads left for the occupier in the south and east of our country," he said.

"In practice, there are almost no safe roads left for the occupier in the south and east of our country."

Ukrainian military operations in recent months have expanded to include medium-range strikes and attacks at distances of several hundred kilometres from Ukraine's borders, with a stated focus on targets linked to Russia's oil industry. Zelenskiy reported that between January and May Ukrainian forces struck 15 Russian oil refineries.

According to the president, these actions have helped create shortages of fuel in areas under Russian control. He said the shortfalls are most visible in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, and in other occupied territories.

On the same day as Zelenskiy's remarks, drivers in Crimea faced gasoline rationing after Ukrainian drone attacks limited road supplies in the south-eastern corridor of Ukraine, constraining deliveries to the peninsula.


Implications and context presented by the president center on the degradation of Russian logistical freedom of movement and reduced fuel availability in occupied regions. The statements highlight a campaign of strikes against oil infrastructure and transport routes that, according to Zelenskiy, has had measurable effects on supply chains feeding Russian-held areas.

While the president framed the operations as ongoing pressure on occupation-related logistics and energy nodes, specific operational details beyond the counts of refineries struck and the general geographic reach were not provided in his remarks.

Risks

  • Reduced fuel availability in occupied regions may disrupt civilian transport and local commerce in Crimea and other Russian-held territories - this primarily affects the energy and transport sectors.
  • Constriction of safe roads for Russian forces increases logistical vulnerability and could further hinder supply lines, impacting military logistics and regional supply chains.

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