Panic In Crimea: Hundreds Of Cars Are Leaving The Occupied Peninsula
- 21.06.2026, 21:14
Ukraine has already cut off the alternative to the "land bridge" to Crimea.
Following the attack drones in Kerch, an oil depot near the bridge is on fire; traffic across the bridge was blocked for several hours. It has now been reopened, but more than 700 vehicles are trying to leave Crimea.
A public group dedicated to the situation on the so-called Crimean Bridge has officially reported that more than 700 vehicles are lined up heading toward Russia. It is also reported that three ferries are on fire near Kerch. “Focus” has compiled everything that is known.
The public group reports that “there is no line at the manual inspection checkpoint on the Taman side.” However, on the Kerch side, “there are 710 vehicles in the line for manual inspection. The wait time is about two hours.”
In the chat, where inconvenient comments about the availability of gasoline and the situation on the occupied peninsula are being deleted, there are still posts stating that leaving Crimea is not easy—you’ll have to wait in line for several hours.
Ukraine has already cut off the alternative to the “land bridge” to Crimea and has begun disrupting the peninsula’s power supply
A Ukrainian attack on a ferry in the Krasnodar Krai led to the temporary closure of the ferry crossing between Russia and Crimea, which was used to deliver essential goods, fuel, and military cargo to the peninsula. At the same time, power outages began on the peninsula.
The Exilenova+ website shows a panoramic view of the fire in the Kerch Strait and notes that car ferries are on fire.
It has been officially reported that the ferry “Panagia” was attacked on the Kerch Strait crossing in the Temryuk District of the Krasnodar Region, as well as an oil terminal in the village of Chushka. An oil depot in Kerch is also on fire in occupied Crimea.
Furthermore, judging by reports of power outages, energy infrastructure facilities in Crimea were attacked overnight. However, it is currently unclear exactly which targets were attacked.
Following the attack, authorities in the Krasnodar Krai announced a temporary ban on traffic across the Kerch Strait starting today.
“Since heavy-duty vehicles are prohibited from crossing the Crimean Bridge, drivers must choose an alternative land route—the R-280 highway via Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Mariupol, Melitopol, and Simferopol,” according to a statement from the Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters.
The suspension of the Kerch ferry service further complicates the delivery of fuel and essential goods to Crimea. The ferry crossing was used to transport trucks from Russia “carrying military cargo, perishable goods, socially essential foodstuffs, and essential non-food items.” A rail ferry carrying fuel tankers also operated between Russia and the peninsula via the crossing, and it has already been attacked.
As for the alternative overland route to Crimea that has been proposed to truck drivers, it had previously been effectively cut off. From early May through the end of last week, at least 415 trucks were attacked and at least six bridges leading to Crimea were damaged. Russian authorities banned trucks from crossing the Crimean Bridge after a truck explosion collapsed two spans of the structure in October 2022. Later, electric and hybrid vehicles were also banned from crossing the bridge.