Ukraine Strikes Vital Railway Bridge in Russian-Occupied Crimea

The Ukrainian military on Tuesday said it struck a vital railway bridge over the North Crimean canal in Russian-occupied Crimea.

In a post on Telegram, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) said the North Crimean canal bridge "no longer exists."

The SOF said the rail bridge serves as "strategic military and logistical artery for the occupiers." The bridge was used to move cargo, resources and military supplies via the Kerch strait between annexed Crimea and mainland Russian territory, the SOF added.

Russia annexed Crimea, which is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, in 2014. The annexation was met with sanctions from the US and EU.

Crimea is strategically located on the Black Sea and has also been used by Russia as a launching point for attacks in its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian invasion of its neighbor began in February 2022.

'Isolating Crimea with drones'

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Federov said the Ukrainian military is "isolating Crimea with drones."

"It looks like in the nearest time, Crimea will become an island. This could lead to some very unexpected consequences for Russians," Federov said on YouTube.

Ukraine has also launched attacks on oil refineries on Crimea, suspending fuel sales on the peninsula. Ukraine has also recently carried out drone attacks on other energy infrastructure, and damaged a key oil refinery near Moscow on June 18.

Putin: Ukraine aims to 'destabilize society' with drone attacks

In his first comments since a Ukrainian drone attack on a Moscow refinery last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin told graduates of military and security institutions that Ukraine aims to "destabilize society."

"Strikes against civilian infrastructure — what are they aimed at? To destabilize society and amid such a massive onslaught, when the entire West is working for them and these drones are coming in huge number, to create a sense of uncertainty about the actions of the Russian armed forces," Putin said.

Since launching the war, Russia has steadily targeted Ukrainian hospitals, power plants, and other civilian infrastructure, without a clear military purpose. Ukraine has only recently managed to regularly strike targets deep inside Russian territory using more advanced drone systems.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia is considering a diesel export ban to shore up Russia's domestic fuel market, amid gas shortages as Ukraine strikes refineries and depots.

Russia is also boosting domestic fuel production and drafting tax proposals to help the energy sector.

Russian ballistic missile hits Zelenskyy's hometown in deadly strike

Meanwhile, a Russian attack targeted the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, which is the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy said three people died in a Russian missile attack on the city, with over 20 people injured.

The missile used a cluster munition warhead, according to Ukrainian authorities.