Crimea severed from mainland for first time as Ukrainian strikes cripple bridges

Operation Severs Crimea from Mainland

According to ХВИЛЯ: In early June 2026, Ukrainian forces carried out a landmark operation that cut off occupied Crimea from the mainland by launching a series of attacks on key bridges. The operation was conducted by a newly formed unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine-the Phalanx Multi-Domain Operations Center. For the first time, these strikes used domestically produced long-range drones, the FP-2 and Begemot, capable of carrying 75–100 kg warheads over distances of up to 300 km.

Bridge Strikes

As part of the operation, Ukrainian forces targeted bridges near Chongar, Henichesk, and Armyansk. The bridge near Chongar was attacked on the night of June 6–7 and again on the night of June 9. On June 8, the bridge from Henichesk to the Arabat Spit was hit, and on June 11, crossings near Armyansk came under fire. According to the command, all bridges were severely damaged, and traffic was halted-a fact publicly acknowledged by the occupation authorities in Kherson region.

The Phalanx Center, established in spring 2026 by a decision of the Ministry of Defense, brought together two assault regiments:

• The 1st Separate Assault Regiment named after Dmytro Kotsiubailo
• The 475th Separate Assault Regiment Code 9.2

The commander of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment is Major Dmytro Filatov (call sign Perun), and the commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment is Major Oleksandr Nastenko (call sign Flint). Both regiments are actively fighting on the Huliaipole axis, holding back the advance of the nearly 100,000-strong Russian Vostok grouping.

Oleksandr Nastenko (Flint) stated: 'We received information that a very large Russian column was being prepared. Within about six hours, a decision was made to strike the Chongar bridge so that this column could not pass.'

He also noted that 'all three bridges were very heavily damaged, and equipment was destroyed.' According to him, 'there is no longer a transport corridor to Crimea from the mainland. From now on, Crimea can be considered an island. Let the Russians buy boats to get to the mainland.'

Phalanx's cyber intelligence discovered that after the attacks, the Russians changed their fuel supply route through Crimea. Nastenko emphasized that the destruction of fuel trucks caused 'an acute fuel shortage in the Russian Vostok brigades,' calling it 'simply a catastrophe.' He added that 'the volume of fuel distributed to all brigades of the grouping is so small that our single regiment consumes that much.'

This operation marks a significant milestone in Ukraine's military actions in the east, showcasing new capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the context of modern combat conditions.

The operation that severed Crimea from the mainland underscores shifts in Ukraine's strategy, particularly in the use of new technologies and tactics in the war. The destruction of key transport routes will complicate Russian military logistics, potentially severely impacting their ability to conduct combat operations in the region. This could also become a turning point in the military conflict, as Ukraine strengthens its position by employing innovative approaches and effective strike assets.

The recent operation to sever Crimea from the mainland is a significant step in Ukraine's strategy to disrupt Russian logistics. As Ukrainian forces successfully targeted key bridges, they effectively blocked essential supply routes. For a deeper understanding of how these actions have impacted Russian military movements, you can read more about how Ukraine has cut off all major supply lines from Crimea.