“We expect with the Ukrainian army gaining access to the Azov Sea at least that the future of so-called Russian Crimea will be under big, big question.”
Ukraine is currently using long-range ATACMS provided by the US to strike Russian forces in Crimea.
Philip Karber, a military analyst with expertise on Ukraine, told Radio Free Europe that “the delivery of ATACMS is a big breakthrough” and that they “could basically make Crimea militarily worthless.”
Ukraine has already struck hefty blows to Russia in Crimea during the war.
Kyiv’s forces successfully attacked the Kerch Bridge in 2022, and they have also pushed back Russia‘s Navy at sea.
Zelensky told The Washington Post that attacks on Crimea are helping to stifle Moscow’s strikes.
He said: “When Russia knows we can destroy these jets, they will not attack from Crimea.
“It’s like with the sea fleet,” he added. “We pushed them from our territorial waters. Now we will push them from the airports in Crimea.”
In April, Ukraine suggested it could try and attack the Kerch Bridge again in what could be the first step to taking Crimea.
Maj Gen Vadym Skybytskyi said Kyiv had “no choice” but to take the fight to targets deep behind enemy lines.