Russian Army Restored Control Over Key Supply Highway to Crimea, Official Claims

July 20, 2026 Moscow-installed head of Zaporizhzhia Yevgeny Balitsky meets with President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin Russia’s armed forces have restored “full control” of a key highway that supplies Crimea through occupied Ukraine, the Kremlin-installed governor of the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia told President Vladimir Putin on Monday. “The R-280 highway, which supplies Crimea, is today under full control,” Yevgeny Balitsky told the Russian leader in a televised meeting at the Kremlin. Without elaborating, Balitsky said the Russian military uses “new methods and new equipment” to repel Ukrainian drones, which have targeted supply trucks along the highway in recent months, leading to an acute fuel shortage in Crimea. The Moscow Times could not independently verify Balitsky’s claims. In June, the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces vowed to “isolate” Crimea from mainland Russia by taking control of the R-280, which connects the annexed peninsula to southern Russia’s Rostov region via the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Kremlin-installed authorities in Crimea began introducing fuel rationing measures in May as supplies entering the region began to dwindle. Retail gasoline prices in Crimea hit an average of 185.18 rubles per liter ($8.93 per gallon) on July 13, according to Rosstat. Ukraine has also destroyed several bridges that link Crimea with occupied areas of southern Ukraine, leading to restrictions on commercial and passenger traffic along major roadways. Read more about: Occupied Ukraine , Zaporizhzhia , Crimea Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukraine, Russia Exchange Fire, at Least 7 Dead The uptick in civilian deaths came as Russian forces are pressing in hard in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine. 2 Min read FSB Says Killed 'Ukrainian Agent,' Arrests 2 Others in Occupied Zaporizhzhia Russian law enforcement officials described the shootout and arrests as a “special operation” that “thwarted the activities of three large secret... 1 Min read Russia Jails Abducted Ukrainian Activist 13 Years for ‘Spying’ Serhiy Tsygipa went missing in March 2022 while attempting to bring medicine to his mother-in-law and was found months later in a Russian detention center... 1 Min read Kremlin Opts for Low-Key Festivities on Crimea Annexation Anniversary Analysts say the anniversary's ideological value for the Kremlin has been lost in the year since the invasion of Ukraine. 4 Min read