Blackouts, fuel shortages and explosions: What happened in Crimea this weekend
The aftermath of the weekend's events in Crimea (photo: exilenova_plus)
The Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a series of large-scale strikes on Crimea over the weekend. Gas facilities, oil terminals, air defense systems, logistics infrastructure, and other targets were hit.
RBC-Ukraine has compiled everything known so far about the situation in Crimea.
Key points:
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The Unmanned Systems Forces struck four gas compressor stations in Crimea and a bridge across the Henichesk Strait.
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An oil terminal in Kerch and Port Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar region were destroyed, while four S-400 radar stations and two Pantsir air defense systems were hit.
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Traffic on the Crimean Bridge was suspended twice over the weekend due to drone attacks.
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From June 21, gasoline sales at all gas stations in Crimea were completely halted.
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During the night of June 22, explosions and blackouts were reported in Armyansk, Feodosia, and other cities.
Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign Madyar, reported the following results:
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Four gas compressor stations in Crimea were hit — in Zhuravlivka, Aromatne, Kliuchi, and Lokhivka;
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A road bridge across the Henichesk Strait was attacked;
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A harbor tugboat in Skadovsk, two fuel tankers, and a BAZ-6403 heavy tractor were destroyed.
On the same day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a bridge connecting Crimea with the combat zone. Russian forces had been using it to supply troops.
Port and oil depot on fire
The night of June 21 was also turbulent in Crimea.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the TES-Terminal-1 oil terminal in the Port of Kerch, one of the key fuel storage facilities for Russian forces, was hit. A fire broke out at the site.
Damage to the oil terminal in Crimea (photo: @ukr_sof)
Port Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar region also came under attack. It provides a maritime link between mainland Russia and Crimea, and a fire also broke out there.
In addition, a bridge connecting Crimea with the front line was hit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed details of the operation. According to him, the strikes were carried out at a distance of about 300 kilometers from the front line and involved units of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Main Directorate of Intelligence, and the Special Operations Forces.
"Facilities on both sides of the Crimean Bridge were hit: maritime logistics used to transport oil in the Krasnodar region and an oil depot in temporarily occupied Kerch," the president wrote.
Zelenskyy also reported the destruction of four radar stations belonging to S-400 air defense missile systems and two Pantsir air defense systems.
"I am grateful to all our warriors for their precision and professionalism. Russia understands only strength, and our long-range strength is certainly working for peace," he concluded.
Bridge closed twice in two days
Russian authorities were forced to suspend traffic on the Kerch Bridge following two nighttime attacks — on the nights of June 21 and June 22.
According to the Telegram channel Krymsky Veter, residents of Kerch, Bakhchysarai, Sevastopol, Simferopol, and the Nyzhnohirskyi, Krasnohvardiiske, and Krasnoperekopsk districts reported hearing explosions and air defense activity.
Robert “Madyar” Brovdi released footage of strikes on an oil terminal in occupied Kerch and apologized to local Ukrainians for the disruption.
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) June 21, 2026
He also claimed Crimea’s air defenses and logistics network are collapsing. pic.twitter.com/ZlA9FQl8fn
In Feodosia, observers reported a fire between fuel storage facilities. Explosions were also heard near a border service facility in the Armiansk area, followed by secondary detonations.
Crimea without fuel and electricity
The consequences of the strikes were also felt by civilians on the peninsula.
On June 21, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, announced a complete suspension of fuel sales at gas stations, including cash, cashless, and voucher purchases. Fuel is being supplied only to state agencies responsible for critical infrastructure.
Following the explosions during the night of June 22, power outages were reported in several cities. According to open-source intelligence channels, the Tavriya thermal power plant was hit.
The local authorities also announced that children would not be admitted to summer camps in Crimea throughout the summer. The official reason cited was the "security situation."
"Crimea will bring Moscow down," Madyar says
Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign Madyar, commented on the situation in Crimea following the series of strikes.
"Moscow and the old man in the bunker will hold on to Crimea until the very end as the main trophy of the war, even if it becomes an island. Of course, it is a pillar of their ideology of greatness and comes with many benefits," he wrote.
Madyar also outlined what he believes could be Crimea's future.
"A complete collapse of air defenses, further degradation of the remaining fleet, the shutdown of shadow logistics, total resource and logistical exhaustion, a tourism default, an energy desert, a transport lockdown, and more," he said.
"Crimea will bring Moscow down. That's the bottom line," the commander concluded.
The Institute for the Study of War stated in its report that Ukraine is conducting a systematic campaign against Russian forces in Crimea.
According to the analysts, each new strike in the Kerch Strait brings the peninsula closer to a logistical collapse and gradually cuts it off from Russia.
