MOSCOW — Russian-installed authorities in occupied Crimea halted public fuel sales after a series of Ukrainian attacks on the Black Sea peninsula and nearby supply infrastructure, officials said on Sunday, marking a further tightening of restrictions amid growing fuel shortages.
Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, announced that gasoline would no longer be sold to private individuals or businesses and would instead be reserved for government agencies responsible for maintaining essential services and security. “Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea,” Aksyonov said in a statement.
The decision followed overnight Ukrainian strikes that authorities said caused casualties on the peninsula. Aksyonov said four people were killed and 28 wounded in an attack in the Kerch area, though details of the targets remained unclear. Ukrainian authorities have not publicly confirmed all aspects of the reported strike.
The latest restrictions come after weeks of fuel rationing across Crimea. Earlier this month, Russian-installed authorities suspended cash gasoline sales and limited purchases through a coupon system as supply disruptions worsened. Officials attributed the shortages to attacks on transport and logistics routes serving the peninsula.
Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian-controlled energy, transport and military infrastructure in and around Crimea, which Russia seized and annexed in 2014. Kyiv has described the campaign as part of an effort to weaken Russian military logistics supporting operations in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has referred to such strikes as “long-range sanctions” against Russian energy facilities.
Reports from recent weeks indicated long queues at fuel stations and increasing difficulties in delivering fuel to parts of the peninsula. Reuters witnesses earlier this month reported shortages at stations in several Crimean cities as supply chains came under pressure.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has repeatedly reported intercepting Ukrainian drones over Crimea and other regions. On Monday, Russian authorities said air defense systems had downed dozens of drones during a broader wave of attacks, while Ukraine continued to report Russian strikes on its territory.
As of Monday, public fuel sales in Crimea remained suspended, and local authorities had not announced a timetable for restoring normal access to gasoline. Officials said further decisions regarding fuel distribution would be announced later.
