Occupation official restricts traffic on key Russian military supply route to Crimea after Ukrainian drone strikes

Yevhen Balytskyi, the Russian-installed head of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has ordered traffic restrictions on a section of the so-called Novorossiya motorway running along the Sea of Azov to occupied Crimea, after Ukrainian drones began reaching the route.

Source: Balytskyi on social media

Details: According to Balytskyi, a section of the R-280 motorway in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast has been closed following what he claimed was a Ukrainian attack. Traffic has been diverted through nearby villages.

"To ensure road safety, traffic has been temporarily restricted on the section of the R-280 Novorossiya motorway between kilometre markers 317 and 331," Balytskyi wrote.

He accused the so-called "Kyiv regime" of striking "civilian infrastructure" but provided no further details. He also did not say when full traffic on the route will resume.

For reference: Russia's so-called federal R-280 Novorossiya motorway is a key military logistics route stretching more than 500 km. It links Rostov-on-Don with occupied Crimea through the occupied parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, passing through the cities of Mariupol, Berdiansk and Melitopol. The route serves as the main land corridor and lateral supply road for transporting fuel, ammunition and military equipment to Russia's southern grouping of forces.

Ukrainian drones are now regularly striking freight vehicles, fuel tankers and military equipment along the road. Successful attacks have been reported near Chonhar, Sokolohirne and on routes leading out of occupied Crimea.

Background:

• In May, Volodymyr Saldo, the Russian-installed head of the occupied part of Kherson Oblast, also ordered traffic restrictions on the Novorossiya motorway after Ukrainian drones began targeting it.
• In June, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov predicted that occupied Crimea will soon become isolated due to Ukrainian drone strikes.

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