Andrei Klintsevich, head of the Center for the Study of Military and Political Conflicts, said strikes on checkpoints along Ukraine’s western border could seriously disrupt supplies to Ukrainian forces and weaken the country’s military logistics.
According to Klintsevich, attacks on bridges and railway infrastructure can also create significant problems, but damaged routes can often be restored. Doing so requires additional time, money and resources, yet it does not always bring traffic to a complete halt.
Border checkpoints, he argued, are more vulnerable because they are not limited to a simple road barrier. They include customs and border services, inspection areas, communications systems and other infrastructure needed to keep cross-border traffic moving. Disrupting these facilities could significantly slow the movement of cargo into Ukraine.
Klintsevich added that if strikes on checkpoints became systematic, Western countries would likely look for alternative routes. However, he said deliveries would become slower, more expensive and less predictable.
In his assessment, even delays lasting several days could be significant for the Ukrainian military, which depends on a steady flow of ammunition and equipment.
On the night of August 21, Russian forces carried out a drone strike on an international checkpoint in the Odessa Region near the border with Moldova. The crossing was described as playing a key role in supplying Ukrainian forces.