What happened
Ukraine's 40-day summer drone campaign, which aimed to end the war with Russia, has backfired. The campaign targeted Russian shipping and warehouses, but it triggered a devastating Russian response. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the plan on June 25, which included targeting Wildberries warehouses and fuel ships supplying Crimea.
The initial strikes were successful, with Ukrainian drones hitting 35 Russian vessels between July 6 and 10. However, Russia soon adapted its air defenses and launched a sustained drone and missile campaign against the port city of Odesa. The campaign has had a significant impact on Ukraine's economy, with the port of Odesa being effectively blockaded and many vessels being damaged or destroyed.
Russia has also targeted Ukraine's warehouses, with many being hit by missiles and drones. This has led to empty shelves in Kyiv stores and a significant disruption to Ukraine's supply chains. The Ukrainian government has estimated that the country could lose up to $3 billion in agricultural exports this year due to the blockade.
The situation has been described as unprecedented, with one Ukrainian official stating that the country is facing a situation where civilian vessels are being methodically finished off and destroyed. The damage to Ukraine's economy is significant, with the country's exports being severely impacted and many businesses struggling to survive.
