Putin acknowledges fuel shortages as Ukraine strikes refineries, sparking unrest in Crimea
President Vladimir Putin said the country was facing fuel shortages after Ukrainian missile strikes hit energy and oil-refining facilities, NBC News reported. He told reporters that the attacks had reduced refining capacity by roughly a third and that a task force was mobilised to address the shortfall, according to the network. While stressing that the shortages were not yet critical, Putin pledged to accelerate defence production and speed up repairs at damaged refineries, BBC noted. Fox News added that the government was weighing emergency measures to stabilise supplies in the affected regions.
AP observed that the reduced output had triggered long queues, regional rationing and higher prices, but officials described the situation as temporary. Later, Crimean authorities confirmed a prolonged gasoline shortage that sparked criticism from local residents, EUobserver said. The report also noted that Russian troops were positioned near the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, underscoring heightened military activity in the area.
