The Ukrainian Armed Forces Are Systematically Disrupting Russian Logistics In The South

It's not just the occupiers' vehicles that are being targeted.

Ukrainian forces are maintaining the pace of their strikes against Russian logistics in southern Ukraine. According to OSINT analyst Klement Molina, since May 2026, medium-range drones have struck more than 3,000 trucks and other vehicles on key highways.

The R-280 highway remains one of the main targets. Almost every day, similar videos emerge from the occupied regions of southern Ukraine: convoys of trucks travel at high speeds along the roads, many of which are escorted by vehicles equipped with air defense systems. They are transporting goods, fuel, and military equipment, but are constantly coming under attack from UAVs. Russian drivers themselves are posting videos showing just how dangerous these trips have become.

It’s not just the vehicles that are being targeted. The Ukrainian military is attacking bridges, some of which have been destroyed, including in the Chongar area. The switch to pontoon crossings makes every truck an easier target.

Currently, along the land corridor to Crimea—the Rostov–Crimea highway—transportation mainly travels in convoys. Typically, these consist of three to five trucks and two to three vehicles equipped with air defense systems. According to Molina’s assessment, supplying Crimea is becoming a serious problem, and winter will only exacerbate the situation: there will be fewer natural shelters among the trees, and it will be harder to pull off the road due to the weather.

The analyst continues to track statistics on medium-range drone strikes not only in the south but also in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In September, according to his calculations, at least 770 trucks and other vehicles were hit. This figure includes only vehicles captured in videos released by the Ukrainian side that were filmed more than 20 km from the front line.

Ukrainian forces are using both medium-range drones—such as the Hornet, Darts, RAM 2X, B2, Chaklun, and others—and long-range FPV drones. The Ronin group from the 65th Mechanized Brigade is constantly striking supply routes in the Zaporizhzhia region, near Tokmak and Vasylivka, using, among other things, fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones that provide a stable video feed. Ukrainian units prioritize mobile air defense groups, fuel tankers, and large military and civilian trucks.

Russia, in turn, is increasingly using medium-range interceptor drones against Ukrainian drones. The “Rubicon” group claims to have shot down 7,000 UAVs since the beginning of the year, including 1,800 in September. Molin advises treating these figures with caution, as the Russians often exaggerate their results.

According to the analyst, the campaign of medium-range drone strikes has neither stopped nor slowed down, as was claimed several months ago. It has simply fallen out of the headlines amid an intensification of Russian long-range attacks on Ukraine. But over time, the consequences for Russian logistics are becoming increasingly apparent.

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