KYIV — Ukraine has intensified attacks on fuel infrastructure and supply routes in Russian-occupied Crimea, disrupting fuel deliveries and prompting Russian-installed authorities on the peninsula to suspend civilian gasoline sales, according to officials on both sides and reports published on Monday.
The latest strikes targeted energy facilities, transport links and logistics routes used to support Russian operations in Crimea, Ukrainian and Russian officials said. Russian-appointed Crimean authorities announced emergency measures over the weekend, citing what they described as a deteriorating fuel supply situation following repeated Ukrainian attacks.
Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-backed head of Crimea, said fuel sales at gas stations across the peninsula had been suspended and that supplies would be reserved for state services and critical operations. “Fuel will only be dispensed to state services that ensure the vital activities and security of the Republic of Crimea,” Aksyonov said in a public statement.
Ukraine has increasingly focused on striking oil depots, fuel convoys, transport hubs and infrastructure connected to the Kerch Strait, a key route linking Crimea to Russia. Ukrainian officials have described the campaign as an effort to disrupt military logistics supporting Russian forces in southern Ukraine. Recent strikes have reportedly hit oil storage facilities in Kerch and fuel infrastructure in Russia's Krasnodar region, according to Ukrainian military statements and local reports.
Russian authorities said Ukrainian attacks over the weekend also caused civilian casualties. Aksyonov said four people were killed and dozens were injured in one of the largest recent attacks on the peninsula. Reuters and other media organizations were not able to independently verify battlefield claims from either side.
The escalation follows weeks of reported fuel shortages in Crimea. Associated Press and other news organizations reported earlier this month that Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, depots, pipelines and fuel transport routes had contributed to what officials described as a severe fuel crisis on the Black Sea peninsula. Long queues at filling stations and rationing measures were reported in several areas.
Russia's Defense Ministry has continued to report interceptions of Ukrainian drones over Crimea and nearby regions, while Ukrainian officials have maintained that military and energy infrastructure remain legitimate targets connected to Russia's military operations. Details regarding the full extent of damage to fuel facilities remain unclear.
As of Monday, fuel restrictions remained in place across much of Russian-controlled Crimea, according to local authorities. Ukrainian strikes on logistics and energy infrastructure continued to be reported, while Russian officials said efforts were underway to restore fuel supplies and maintain transportation links to the peninsula.
