Crimea, the tiny piece of Russia surrounded by Ukraine, could be the next front in Putin’s war.

*Ukraine supplies Crimea with electricity and water, making it vulnerable to Kyiv’s wrath.*<br><br>*The peninsula is home to a key Russian naval base.*<br><br>*"I think they will run into some problems,” said a former US defense secretary.*<br><br>Russian President Vladimir Putin has been dealing with a slew of failed military campaigns in Ukraine, breakaway regions, and even within Russia itself. In the latest development to blow up in his face, a Ukrainian missile strike hit the Crimean peninsula on Tuesday, and a former US secretary of defense has warned that it could be “a problem” for Russia. <br><br>Crimea is a Ukrainian region that Russia annexed in 2014, and it is an important strategic location for Putin. But it is also a weak link in his armor, as Ukraine supplies Crimea with both water and electricity, a situation that has raised eyebrows. <br><br>Russian forces have been preparing to defend Crimea, and Ukraine has threatened to reclaim the peninsula. But as Ukraine gains momentum and Russia suffers blows, it’s clear that Crimea is at risk of becoming the next front in the drawn-out war. <br><br>Crimea is a peninsula surrounded by Ukrainian territory. In 2014, pro-Russia protests flared across Ukraine, and Russian forces annexed Crimea, prompting a Russian naval base to be established on the peninsula. <br><br>Crimea is a critical strategic location for Putin, as the Russian naval base is home to his Black Sea Fleet. Putin’s holding Crimea is important, “just like the Baltic states are to the United States,” a military analyst told Insider, noting that the Black Sea is “a very important artery” for global trade. <br><br>However, Crimea relies on Ukrainian supplies for water and electricity, and has since 2014.Crimea relies on Ukraine for water and electricity, and a key dam has been damaged.In 2022, a key dam, the Kakhovka Dam, was destroyed in a widely condemned attack, and many have accused Russia of the destruction. The dam was built by the Soviet Union to supply Crimea with water, and Putin's military has been accused of blowing it up.<br><br>Crimea relies on Ukraine for water and electricity, the UK defense ministry has said. <br><br>A former US secretary of defense, Mark Esper, reacted to the missile strike on Monday by stating that Crimea “could be a problem” for Russia. <br><br>The Crimean peninsula has been preparing for war with Ukraine, with military forces inspecting the protective barriers along its coastline. <br><br>Ukraine has vowed to reclaim Crimea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has maintained that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine and has done everything in his power to annex it back. <br><br>Russian forces are preparing for war in Crimea, as Ukraine gains momentum.Russian forces are preparing for war in Crimea, as Ukraine gains momentum.<br><br>Meanwhile, Ukraine has been striking back, with the missile attack on the Crimean peninsula being the latest in a slew of attacks that have caught Russia off guard. <br><br>In another attack, a Ukrainian drone hit the Kremlin in Moscow in early May. <br><br>Putin’s handling of the war in Ukraine has been heavily criticized, and his military is under pressure after failing to capture the city of Bakhmut despite a six-month battle. <br><br>Russian forces have been preparing for war in Crimea, with military personnel inspecting protective barriers along the coastline. <br><br>Meanwhile, a Ukrainian official has vowed that Crimea will be reclaimed by Kyiv. <br><br>Crimea could be a weak link in Russia’s armor.