Russian Soldiers March 19 Miles to Front as Ukraine Shuts Down Supplies

Ukraine’s Strategic Strikes Disrupt Russian Military Logistics

Ukraine’s ongoing campaign of medium-range strikes on Russian military targets in occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine has significantly disrupted Moscow’s military logistics chain. This disruption is now forcing some Russian infantry units to walk up to 19 miles to reach their frontline positions, marking a critical shift in the dynamics of the conflict.

The development was highlighted by Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson on Wednesday, July 1. Fedorov emphasized that these attacks are creating increasing challenges for Russia’s armed forces, particularly in terms of transporting troops and supplies to the front lines.

Logistical Challenges and Fuel Shortages

Fedorov explained that Russian infantry in certain sectors of the front have had to walk 30 kilometers (19 miles) to reach their positions due to the destruction of logistical infrastructure. This has led to significant difficulties in delivering essential supplies such as ammunition, food, water, and medical aid. Additionally, fuel shortages at the front lines have further compounded these problems.

When fuel cannot be delivered to the front, it creates major difficulties even after troops arrive. The lack of fuel has made it impossible for Russian units to power the generators used by their drone operators, which is a critical component of modern warfare.

Second- and Third-Order Problems

According to the Washington, DC-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces conducted at least 303 medium/intermediate-range strikes against Russian targets in occupied Ukraine during June 2026 alone. This represents a nearly 50% increase compared to the 210 strikes launched in May 2026. The ISW also reported that Ukrainian forces carried out at least 31 strikes against Russian oil infrastructure and 47 strikes against military assets across 41 Russian federal districts in June 2026.

Escalating Crises in Russia

Fedorov noted that these disruptions are generating a range of less visible but significant problems, all of which are eroding the intensity of Russian offensive operations. He pointed out that Ukraine is observing signs of fuel and critical infrastructure crises not only in Crimea and southern Ukraine but also within Russia itself.

“We see that in Crimea they announced fuel sales by QR code, then canceled the plan, and now it is impossible to buy fuel at all. A large number of crises are beginning to pile up, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for Russia to deal with one crisis after another,” Fedorov said.

The 40-Day Operation Plan

This campaign against Russian military infrastructure is part of the 40-day operation announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The goal of this pressure campaign is to create so many dislocations and instability in Russia that Moscow would be forced to conclude a peace agreement.

Fedorov stated that everything is proceeding according to plan, with Ukraine simultaneously increasing the intensity of long-range strikes and accelerating defense procurement. This effort is supported by financial assistance from European partners.

European Support and Military Expansion

The minister described the arrival of the first tranche of a new European defense loan as “bad news for the Russians.” He explained that this funding will allow Ukraine to expand its military purchases and maintain the initiative on the battlefield.

Fedorov emphasized that Ukraine’s objective is to reduce the intensity of any Russian attacks by disrupting logistics. At the same time, these strikes on Russian military infrastructure will protect both frontline troops and civilians in the cities.

Ongoing Attacks and Civilian Impact

Several Ukrainian cities in the south continue to suffer from Russian strikes, including Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. Russian forces have launched attacks across southeastern Ukraine, resulting in at least three deaths and over a dozen injuries when drones hit petrol stations in the Dnipropetrovsk region and guided bombs struck civilian areas in Zaporizhzhia.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, drone strikes hit five petrol stations and damaged railway infrastructure. In Zaporizhzhia, seven guided bombs hit civilian areas. Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted 130 of 151 Russian drones and a Kh-59 air-to-surface missile during these attacks.

About the Author

Reuben F. Johnson has thirty-six years of experience analyzing and reporting on foreign weapons systems, defense technologies, and international arms export policy. Johnson is the Director of Research at the Casimir Pulaski Foundation. He is also a survivor of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He worked for years in the American defense industry as a foreign technology analyst and later as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Defense, the Departments of the Navy and Air Force, and the governments of the United Kingdom and Australia. In 2022-2023, he won two awards in a row for his defense reporting. He holds a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and a master’s degree from Miami University in Ohio, specializing in Soviet and Russian studies. He lives in Warsaw.