The pro-Russian authorities in the occupied Crimea made a radical decision to completely suspend the sale of fuel to citizens and private companies. This decision comes in the midst of a severe energy shortage, as well as a disastrous tourist season, while Ukrainian drone attacks continue to systematically destroy Russian oil and transport infrastructure, writes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Sergei Aksyonov, the leader of the peninsula that was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, uttered previously unimaginable words in a public address – it’s over, there’s no more fuel in Crimea. More specifically, he announced that from June 21, gas stations in Crimea may supply only state services.
– Fuel will be delivered only to state agencies responsible for maintaining key services and ensuring security – said Aksyonov in a short video message on Telegram, without specifying how long these restrictions will remain in force.
Although the occupying authorities have been struggling for years to supply the region of two million inhabitants, especially with water and food, the fuel crisis has escalated with the new phase of the war.
The Ukrainian military has intensified medium-range drone attacks on tankers supplying Crimea in recent months. Namely, the peninsula is connected to the mainland of Russia only via the vulnerable Kerch bridge and a 100-kilometer-wide corridor through the occupied territory of Ukraine.
As part of this broader campaign against Russian logistics, Ukraine has repeatedly attacked key bridges connecting Crimea with the occupied part of the Kherson region. As a result, Russian forces were forced to erect replacement pontoon bridges near Csonhar and Heničesk, which further slowed down and complicated the supply of fuel.
At the same time, a broader Ukrainian drone campaign is targeting key Russian oil refineries and pipelines. This led to serious shortages of gasoline, not only in Crimea, whose economy depends on Russian tourists, but also in the Russian regions themselves.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described these strikes as “long-range sanctions” against Russia, which is mostly financing its military efforts in the fifth year of the war with oil revenues.
Zelensky confirmed that the Ukrainian forces successfully hit the maritime logistics for the transportation of oil in the Russian region of Krasnodar, as well as the oil warehouse in the temporarily occupied Kerch. In addition, military logistics facilities and four air defense radar stations were destroyed.
Aksyonov confirmed the attacks on the Kerch area, claiming that four people were killed and 28 were injured, but he did not specify whether an oil plant was hit. On the other hand, Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels posted footage of thick columns of black smoke rising from the area.
At the same time, there is a complete standstill on the diplomatic front. Peace efforts under the administration of US President Donald Trump have been muted recently, as Washington is focused on the conflict with Iran and the turmoil in the Middle East.
Kiev and Moscow remain miles from a negotiating position, as the Kremlin insists on hard-line positions and refuses any compromise over control of the key eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty concludes.
