Crimea suspends civilian gasoline sales amid heightened Ukrainian attacks
The Kremlin-appointed governor of Crimea announced a halt to civilian fuel sales after recent Ukrainian strikes killed four people and injured dozens.
The administration of Crimea announced on Sunday that all gasoline sales to private individuals and non-state companies have been suspended indefinitely following a series of Ukrainian attacks on fuel infrastructure. Governor Sergey Aksyonov said overnight strikes resulted in four deaths and 28 injuries, though he did not specify the target.
"Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea," Aksyonov wrote on social media, urging residents to remain calm and rely on official information.
Ukrainian officials said the operations were part of a broader campaign against Russian energy assets. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described recent strikes on a Crimean oil depot and a terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region as components of “long-range sanctions” targeting Moscow’s energy network.
The suspension comes as the peninsula faces its most severe fuel shortage since its 2014 annexation. Earlier restrictions limited purchases to 20 liters per vehicle per week, prompting long queues and a hotline for stranded tourists. Some drivers transport fuel across the Kerch bridge, but are capped at 100 liters per vehicle, while reports indicate a rise in resale prices.
Russian authorities in Krasnodar also reported a drone-triggered fire at a Black Sea oil terminal and a ferry strike that killed one person, underscoring the escalating pressure on regional energy supplies.
