- Russian authorities in occupied Crimea have suspended fuel sales to private individuals and businesses amid a severe fuel shortage and ongoing Ukrainian drone strikes targeting oil facilities.
- As of June 21, gas stations in Crimea will no longer sell fuel to anyone except state agencies, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-backed head of the peninsula.
- Fuel will be supplied exclusively to state agencies responsible for maintaining essential services and ensuring security, Aksyonov stated in a video address.
- The fuel crisis has become a significant issue amid Ukraine's military campaign of drone strikes targeting fuel trucks supplying Crimea.
- Ukrainian drone strikes have accelerated, targeting key Russian oil refineries and infrastructure, contributing to fuel shortages in Crimea and beyond.
- Governor Sergey Aksyonov confirmed that individuals and businesses would be turned away from petrol stations, with fuel reserved for government agencies.
- A Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot in Kerch resulted in four fatalities and 28 injuries, highlighting the ongoing conflict.
Russian authorities in occupied Crimea have suspended fuel sales to civilians as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to target oil facilities, exacerbating a severe fuel shortage.15
Governor Sergey Aksyonov announced that from June 21, gas stations would only sell fuel to state agencies responsible for essential services and security.
"Fuel will be supplied exclusively to state agencies responsible for maintaining essential services and ensuring security," Aksyonov stated in a video address on Telegram, without providing a timeline for resuming civilian sales.3
The suspension comes amid intensified Ukrainian drone strikes aimed at disrupting Russian logistics, including attacks on oil depots and refineries.
Earlier, four people were reported killed and 28 injured in a drone attack on an oil depot in Kerch, which President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a "just response to Russia's brutal attacks."
Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, is strategically vital for Moscow's military operations in Ukraine. The region's economy heavily relies on tourism, which is suffering due to the ongoing conflict.
Aksyonov urged residents to remain calm, indicating that further decisions would be communicated through official channels.
The fuel restrictions highlight the impact of Ukraine's campaign against Russian supply lines, aiming to stretch Moscow's defenses and disrupt fuel flow to military operations.
“Russian-backed authorities in Crimea have halted fuel sales to private individuals and businesses, limiting supplies to state services. This move comes as Ukraine intensifies its drone strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, impacting the region's economy and security.”
BBC
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