By sky and sea, Ukraine's drone strikes challenge Russia's grip on Crimea

Diners sit at an outdoor restaurant in Sevastopol, Crimea, on July 22. Ukrainian drone strikes are causing power outages, fuel shortages and cuts in cellphone service in the peninsula. Russia seized Crimea when it first invaded Ukraine in 2014, but now its hold on the territory is being challenged. Igor Ivanko/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

KYIV, Ukraine — The Black Sea peninsula of Crimea is normally packed in the summer with families enjoying beach vacations. But not this year, as Ukraine's relentless drone strikes make life increasingly miserable.

"Transportation is completely at a standstill. No gasoline, no fuel, no power. The stores are closed. The banks are closed. Nothing works at all. There's no water either," a Russian woman said on social media .

Crimea was the first place Russian leader Vladimir Putin seized when he initially invaded Ukraine in 2014. An estimated 1 million Russian troops and civilians have poured into the territory to make it more Russian and less Ukrainian. With the Russian influx, and the departure of many Ukrainians, Crimea's population is now estimated at around 2.5 million.

Ukraine has vowed to get Crimea back and carried out periodic drone strikes in recent years, with limited effect. But the campaign has ramped up dramatically in the past couple months.

Russian military facilities have been hit hard, especially in the northern part of Crimea. For civilians, a critical shortage of basic services keeps getting worse in a place that relies heavily on imports.

"Putin's got a problem here," said Mark Montgomery, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral who comes to Ukraine regularly to help train the military. He's been keeping a close watch on Crimea.

"You cannot keep that many people in a place with limited water, no fuel, limited foodstuffs. I mean, they're going to have to leave," he said.