Russia-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline sales Sunday as Ukraine ramped up attacks on fuel supplies on the Black Sea peninsula, leaving ordinary motorists, tourists and non-state buyers to absorb the latest cost of a war managed from above. Gov. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said overnight Ukrainian strikes killed four people and wounded 28 others, though he did not specify the target of the attack.
Who Gets Cut Off First
Aksyonov later wrote on social media that local gas stations would halt all sales to non-state companies and individuals for an undefined period. "Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea," Aksyonov said. "I ask everyone to remain calm and to only trust official sources of information."
That is the hierarchy in plain sight: fuel is reserved for the apparatus, while everyone else is told to wait, stay calm, and believe the official line. The people who need gas to move, work, or get by are the ones pushed to the back of the line when the system comes under strain.
The Price Paid Below
Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted fuel supplies to Crimea in recent weeks, triggering the worst energy crisis in the region since it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. The peninsula has had periodic fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes before, but the current crisis is the worst since that annexation.
At the end of May, authorities restricted the sale of gas to 20 liters (5 1/3 gallons) per vehicle owner per week, using prepaid coupons. Those were snapped up immediately following their release on an official messaging app channel, and motorists lined up for hours, waiting to refuel. Social networks have been abuzz with requests and advice on where to find fuel, while authorities launched a hotline for tourists in the area who have found themselves trapped.
Some motorists bring their own gas from Krasnodar and elsewhere via the Kerch bridge, but they are restricted to carrying 100 liters (about 26 1/2 gallons) per vehicle. Some speculators are selling gas at double the market price.
What the Authorities Say
In a rare public acknowledgment, the Kremlin has recognized the scope of the problem and promised to address the issue quickly. That promise comes after the region’s fuel system has already been pushed into rationing, queues and shortages, with official channels controlling access and private profiteers charging desperate people more.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement Sunday that a Crimean oil depot, as well as an oil transport facility in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, were among the targets. He described the attacks as part of Ukraine’s "long-range sanctions" against Russia’s energy infrastructure. "Russia understands only strength, and our long-range strength is certainly working for peace," he wrote.
Russian officials in Krasnodar reported earlier Sunday that a drone strike sparked a fire at a Black Sea oil terminal in the village of Chushka. They said that Ukrainian attacks struck a ferry, killing one person.
The conflict’s machinery keeps grinding while the people underneath it are left to manage shortages, restrictions and fear. On June 11, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reached its 1,569th day, surpassing the duration of World War I.