{"id":1998923,"date":"2026-06-18T07:55:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1998923"},"modified":"2026-06-18T07:55:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:55:51","slug":"crimea-will-turn-into-an-island-ukraines-defence-minister-says-in-a-message-to-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1998923","title":{"rendered":"Crimea will turn into an island, Ukraine\u2019s defence minister says in a message to Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/35\/38\/1200x675_cmsv2_f9d5ad54-27c0-52b8-8254-22b35a21fb18-9803538.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2902706-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2902706\" data-cid=\"9802120\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902706-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" 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the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2902955\" data-cid=\"9803584\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2902955-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/36\/63\/189x106_cmsv2_8a9c005c-1d14-5e36-8d5f-028f9c978861-9603663.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Brussels, My Love?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Brussels, My Love?<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Podcast | Ten years on, Brexit ghosts still linger\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2903257-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2903257\" data-cid=\"9805347\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2903257-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" 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         Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Crimea will turn into an island, Ukraine\u2019s defence minister says in a message to Russia<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/35\/38\/1536x864_cmsv2_f9d5ad54-27c0-52b8-8254-22b35a21fb18-9803538.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Ukraine&apos;s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov speaks during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Ukraine&#8217;s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov speaks during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspSasha Vakulina\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1781769351\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-06-18 09:55:51 +02:00\">18\/06\/2026 &#8211; 9:55 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" 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u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Ukraine is methodically cutting off ground lines of communication for Russian forces into occupied Crimea, isolating the peninsula from Moscow\u2019s forces and any supplies from Russia.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Ukraine\u2019s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed that Kyiv is deliberately isolating Crimea from Russian supplies and ultimately from Moscow\u2019s control. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Crimea is being isolated by drones. In the near future, it appears that the Crimean peninsula will turn into an island,\u201d Fedorov said in an interview on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And this could lead to very unexpected consequences for the Russians. I can&#8217;t say anything more,&#8221; Fedorov added.<\/p>\n<p>Fedorov said Kyiv secured 300% more middle-strike drones in the first four months of 2026 than in all of 2025. <\/p>\n<p>Middle-strike drones have a range between 20 and 200 km and allow Ukrainian forces to operate close to the frontline, and Russia-occupied territories of southern Ukraine and logistics routes supporting Moscow troops in the areas along the coast of the Sea of Azov, where all supply routes to annexed Crimea are. <\/p>\n<p>A railway bridge in Russian-occupied Crimea was struck on Thursday in a drone attack, sparking a fire, according to the monitoring Telegram channels. <\/p>\n<p>One day earlier, Ukrainian forces also struck a road bridge over the North Crimean Canal near the village of Stavky and another bridge near Voinka in the occupied Kherson region, Ukraine&#8217;s General Staff confirmed. <\/p>\n<p>Fedorov added that Kyiv launched what he described as a &#8220;logistics lockdown&#8221; program, providing additional funding directly to military units capable of rapidly purchasing and deploying medium-range strike drones.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For the Russians, hell is beginning \u2014 one that&#8217;s very hard to deal with,&#8221; Fedorov said. &#8220;Logistics are being cut off. Crimea is being isolated,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Kyiv has been increasingly targeting Russia\u2019s ability to sustain its forces in Crimea, making military operations and Moscow\u2019s presence on the peninsula progressively untenable.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Cutting ground lines of communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Crimea\u2019s geographic position is both strategically important and unusually complex, sitting between mainland Ukraine, Russia and the wider Black Sea region.<\/p>\n<p>In the north, Crimea is tied to Moscow\u2011occupied southern Ukraine by a narrow land corridor across the Perekop isthmus and a web of roads and rail lines running through the parts of Kherson region that have been under occupation since 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow is using these ground lines of communication to move troops, ammunition and fuel to the peninsula.<\/p>\n<p>This is the area that Kyiv has been systematically targeting to disrupt those flows.<\/p>\n<p>Russia provides its forces in Crimea with petrol, diesel and aviation fuel through three main channels: road and rail tankers over the Kerch Bridge from Russia, shipments by sea and overland routes running through occupied parts of southern Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>As Ukraine increasingly targets these links with drones and precision strikes, Kyiv forces have triggered the worst fuel crisis on the Black Sea peninsula since it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.<\/p>\n<p>In a rare public acknowledgement, the Kremlin recognised the scope of the problem.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/35\/38\/808x539_cmsv2_5bdb3529-9bed-590b-a0b6-42a52831fe87-9803538.jpg\" alt=\"Cars line up at a petrol station in Simferopol, Crimea, Friday, June 12, 2026. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Cars line up at a petrol station in Simferopol, Crimea, Friday, June 12, 2026. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Crimean Tatar leader urges Russians to flee Crimea<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, has urged Russian citizens who are illegally staying in temporarily occupied Crimea to leave the peninsula immediately.<\/p>\n<p>In a video address on social media, Chubarov said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been carrying out precise and effective strikes on Russian military facilities on the peninsula for weeks now and that the intensity of these strikes will only increase.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I want to address separately another part of the current population of Crimea, namely those who settled on the peninsula after 27 February 2014.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the Ukrainian officials, between 500,000 and 800,000 Russians had illegally relocated to the Ukrainian peninsula since 2014.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour presence in occupied Crimea with forged Russian property documents is illegal under both Ukrainian national law and international law,\u201d Chubarov said in his address.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow, as you can see for yourselves, Crimea has finally become a frontline area, and its liberation from Russian occupation forces is inevitable.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Chubarov urged the Russians in Crimea to \u201cstill avoid inevitable punishment\u201d if they leave Crimea in time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery day that the Kerch Bridge remains operational is your chance to leave Crimea safely and voluntarily. Soon, there will be no such opportunity. Do not wait until the Kerch Bridge is demolished and the land corridor is finally cut off.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Ukraine&#8217;s drone strikes are methodically cutting Crimea off from Russia<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Ukrainian strikes start fires at oil facilities in Russia and Crimea, officials say<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Farms, schools, rail and health services under strain as heatwave grips France<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Crimea<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  War in Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2903063-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2903063\" data-cid=\"9804228\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2903063-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/42\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_5598c0bd-b36d-5015-8699-3b9235db9721-9804228.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Leaders gather for a summit in Brussels\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \"><span class=\"c-article-title__prefix--red\">Live.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>    EU leaders kick off heated talks on \u20ac2 trillion budget plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2903223-pos3-top-stories\" 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data-cid=\"9805167\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2903225-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/51\/67\/320x180_cmsv2_6922e3bc-39b5-5e1d-99eb-29488cee2282-9805167.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"EU leaders gather for a roundtable discussion, June 18, 2026, Brussels.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Newsletter: EU leaders poised for battle over cash<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2903216-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2903216\" data-cid=\"9805134\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2903216-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/51\/34\/320x180_cmsv2_43472a4f-779d-51f0-a84d-cdf5f797ea83-9805134.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Labour candidate Andy Burnham gestures, surrounded by supporters at the Stubshaw Cross Community and Sports Club as voting is underway in the Makerfield by-election.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Andy Burnham wins key UK by-election, setting up leadership battle<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2903249-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2903249\" data-cid=\"9805314\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2903249-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/53\/14\/320x180_cmsv2_3c3bfb9d-3566-5e24-89f6-58eeb26f6685-9805314.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\" Israeli far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir gestures after election exit poll results are released at his party&apos;s headquarters in Jerusalem on Nov. 2, 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;All of Lebanon must burn,&#8217; Israeli minister says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2902630-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902630\" data-cid=\"9801771\" 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the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902446\" data-cid=\"9800868\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries have the cleanest swimming water?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2902764-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2902764\" data-cid=\"9802493\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    These are the world\u2019s best skylines \u2013 and number one is in China<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article 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class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2903063-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2903063\" data-cid=\"9804228\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2903063-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/42\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_5598c0bd-b36d-5015-8699-3b9235db9721-9804228.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Leaders gather for a summit in Brussels\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 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data-key=\"articleBody\">Ukraine\u2019s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed that Kyiv is deliberately isolating Crimea from Russian supplies and ultimately from Moscow\u2019s control.\u00a0&#8220;Crimea is being isolated by drones. In the near future, it appears that the Crimean peninsula will turn into an island,\u201d Fedorov said in an interview on Wednesday.&#8221;And this could lead to very unexpected consequences for the Russians. I can&#8217;t say anything more,&#8221; Fedorov added.Fedorov said Kyiv secured 300% more middle-strike drones in the first four months of 2026 than in all of 2025.\u00a0Middle-strike drones have a range between 20 and 200 km and allow Ukrainian forces to operate close to the frontline, and Russia-occupied territories of southern Ukraine and logistics routes supporting Moscow troops in the areas along the coast of the Sea of Azov, where all supply routes to annexed Crimea are.\u00a0A railway bridge in Russian-occupied Crimea was struck on Thursday in a drone attack, sparking a fire, according to the monitoring Telegram channels.\u00a0One day earlier, Ukrainian forces also struck a road bridge over the North Crimean Canal near the village of Stavky and another bridge near Voinka in the occupied Kherson region, Ukraine&#8217;s General Staff confirmed.\u00a0Fedorov added that Kyiv launched what he described as a &#8220;logistics lockdown&#8221; program, providing additional funding directly to military units capable of rapidly purchasing and deploying medium-range strike drones.&#8221;For the Russians, hell is beginning \u2014 one that&#8217;s very hard to deal with,&#8221; Fedorov said. &#8220;Logistics are being cut off. Crimea is being isolated,&#8221; he said.Kyiv has been increasingly targeting Russia\u2019s ability to sustain its forces in Crimea, making military operations and Moscow\u2019s presence on the peninsula progressively untenable.Cutting ground lines of communicationCrimea\u2019s geographic position is both strategically important and unusually complex, sitting between mainland Ukraine, Russia and the wider Black Sea region.In the north, Crimea is tied to Moscow\u2011occupied southern Ukraine by a narrow land corridor across the Perekop isthmus and a web of roads and rail lines running through the parts of Kherson region that have been under occupation since 2022.Moscow is using these ground lines of communication to move troops, ammunition and fuel to the peninsula.This is the area that Kyiv has been systematically targeting to disrupt those flows.Russia provides its forces in Crimea with petrol, diesel and aviation fuel through three main channels: road and rail tankers over the Kerch Bridge from Russia, shipments by sea and overland routes running through occupied parts of southern Ukraine.As Ukraine increasingly targets these links with drones and precision strikes, Kyiv forces have triggered the worst fuel crisis on the Black Sea peninsula since it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.In a rare public acknowledgement, the Kremlin recognised the scope of the problem.Crimean Tatar leader urges Russians to flee CrimeaRefat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, has urged Russian citizens who are illegally staying in temporarily occupied Crimea to leave the peninsula immediately.In a video address on social media, Chubarov said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been carrying out precise and effective strikes on Russian military facilities on the peninsula for weeks now and that the intensity of these strikes will only increase.&#8221;I want to address separately another part of the current population of Crimea, namely those who settled on the peninsula after 27 February 2014.\u201dAccording to the Ukrainian officials, between 500,000 and 800,000 Russians had illegally relocated to the Ukrainian peninsula since 2014.\u201cYour presence in occupied Crimea with forged Russian property documents is illegal under both Ukrainian national law and international law,\u201d Chubarov said in his address.\u201cNow, as you can see for yourselves, Crimea has finally become a frontline area, and its liberation from Russian occupation forces is inevitable.\u201d\u00a0Chubarov urged the Russians in Crimea to \u201cstill avoid inevitable punishment\u201d if they leave Crimea in time.\u201cEvery day that the Kerch Bridge remains operational is your chance to leave Crimea safely and voluntarily. Soon, there will be no such opportunity. Do not wait until the Kerch Bridge is demolished and the land corridor is finally cut off.\u201d\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/06\/18\/crimea-will-turn-into-an-island-ukraines-defence-minister-says-in-a-message-to-russia&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/80\/35\/38\/1200x675_cmsv2_f9d5ad54-27c0-52b8-8254-22b35a21fb18-9803538.jpg&#8221;] Europe in Motion Europe looks at banning social media, and girls are most impacted Europe News France adapts as extreme heat becomes the new norm Brussels, My Love? Podcast | Ten years on, Brexit ghosts still linger Markets SpaceX lands investment-grade ratings as shares tumble Europe in Motion Europe looks at banning [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1998923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1998923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998923\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1998923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1998923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1998923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}