Zelensky ruins carefree vacation for wealthy Russians: “I want to go back to Moscow”

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“The war began in Crimea and will also end in Crimea.” That’s what the Ukrainian president said in August 2022 at a summit with world leaders at the start of the large-scale Russian invasion. And those words are now proving to be prophetic.

Ukraine is intensifying its attacks on Crimea and appears increasingly determined to cut the peninsula off from Russia. The strategy is clear: not just to target military infrastructure, but to isolate the occupied Crimea step by step, so that the region becomes logistically and economically unsustainable. This is according to RBC.

The Russians invaded the Ukrainian Crimea in late February 2014, gaining initial military control of strategic points on the peninsula on February 27. Russia then formalized the illegal annexation on March 18, 2014. The Ukrainian president has made it clear on multiple occasions that he will reclaim Crimea and refuses to cede a single square centimeter of territory.

Cutting crimea off to make it an island

President Volodymyr Zelensky made it clear as early as 2022 that he views Crimea as the end goal of the war, and that strategy is now being further implemented militarily. Since then, Ukraine has been systematically working to undermine Russian air defenses and create safe corridors for drone attacks. In recent weeks, bridges, rail lines, oil depots, electrical infrastructure, and transportation hubs have been targeted, including areas around Chonhar and the North Crimean Canal Bridge. Audace emphasizes this point.

These attacks strike at a crucial lifeline for the Russian military. After all, the main supply route for weapons, ammunition, food, and medicine to Crimea and southern Ukraine runs via the land corridor through the occupied cities of Mariupol, Berdyansk, and Melitopol. By damaging bridges and disrupting rail traffic, Kyiv aims to render that corridor unusable. Ukraine is also trying to increase pressure by sea: according to its own statements, it is monitoring a large portion of the shipping routes with naval drones. This is reported in Internazionale.

Vacations are falling through

The consequences are becoming increasingly visible on the peninsula. After all, Crimea is a popular vacation destination for Russians. But this year, many Russians are rushing home, and vacations are being canceled. “I want to go back to Moscow,” is the reaction of a frustrated Russian quoted in Het Nieuwsblad. Russia has restricted fuel sales, rationed refueling, and partially suspended tourist activities, including youth vacation camps. In some regions of Crimea, there have already been blackouts, and electricity restrictions have been imposed. At the same time, local sources report empty stores, water shortages, and growing frustration among residents and tourists, according to Meduza.

For the Ukrainian leadership, this is no coincidence, but part of a deliberate strategy. The aim is not only to disable military installations but also to turn Crimea into a place where Russian administration and the Russian military are difficult to maintain. Ukrainian officials speak openly about “isolating” the peninsula. The goal is to confront Putin with a simple message: Crimea as a Russian stronghold is becoming increasingly vulnerable, not stronger, as Al Jazeera emphasizes.

The stakes are high. If Ukraine succeeds in cutting off Crimea for an extended period, it could increase pressure on Moscow to engage in genuine negotiations.

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