Officials in Russia-occupied Crimea halted gasoline sales to civilians on Sunday after a series of Ukrainian strikes aimed at fuel infrastructure on the Black Sea peninsula. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed governor, said overnight attacks killed four people and wounded 28, though he did not identify the specific target. He later announced that fuel would be available only to government agencies responsible for public operations and security, and urged residents to rely on official information.
The restrictions follow weeks of Ukrainian attacks on Crimea’s fuel network, contributing to what local authorities and residents describe as the region’s most serious energy disruption since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, a move widely rejected internationally. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Ukrainian forces struck an oil depot in Crimea and an oil transport facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region. He characterized the operations as “long-range sanctions” against Russia’s energy sector and said they were intended to pressure Moscow.
Russian officials in Krasnodar also reported a drone strike that caused a fire at an oil terminal in Chushka, along with an attack on a ferry that killed one person. The reports could not be independently verified in the immediate aftermath.
For motorists in Crimea, the impact has been immediate. Authorities had already limited gasoline purchases to 20 litres per vehicle owner per week through prepaid coupons, which were quickly exhausted. Long lines have formed at stations, while social media users have exchanged information about available supplies. Officials have opened a hotline for tourists unable to leave.
Some drivers are bringing fuel from Krasnodar across the Kerch Bridge, but limits apply, and reports of resale at inflated prices have emerged. The Kremlin has acknowledged the shortages and pledged a response. The developments underline Ukraine’s expanding long-range capabilities as the wider war continues with limited Russian advances.