Crimea Halts Gasoline Sales After Ukraine Strikes

Officials in Russian-occupied Crimea stopped selling gasoline to civilians on Sunday. The move comes as Ukraine increases attacks on fuel supplies in the region. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said Ukrainian strikes killed four people and wounded 28 others overnight. He did not say what the attack targeted. Aksyonov later posted on social media that local gas stations would stop all sales to private companies and individuals. He did not say how long the halt would last. "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." Ukrainian forces have hit fuel supplies in Crimea many times in recent weeks. This has caused the worst energy crisis in the region since Russia took control of it in 2014. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that a Crimean oil depot and a fuel transport site in southern Russia were among the targets. He called the attacks part of Ukraine’s "long-range sanctions" against Russia’s energy system. "Russia understands only strength, and our long-range strength is certainly working for peace," he wrote. Russian officials in the Krasnodar region said a drone strike caused a fire at a Black Sea oil terminal in the village of Chushka. They also said Ukrainian attacks hit a ferry, killing one person. **Motorists struggle to find fuel** Crimea has had fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes before, but the current crisis is the worst since 2014. At the end of May, authorities limited gas sales to 20 liters (about 5 gallons) per vehicle owner per week. People had to use prepaid coupons. Those coupons sold out quickly on an official messaging app. Drivers waited for hours to refuel. Social media is full of requests and advice on where to find fuel. Authorities started a hotline for tourists who are stuck in the area. Some drivers bring their own gas from Krasnodar and other places using the Kerch bridge. But they can only carry 100 liters (about 26 gallons) per vehicle. Some sellers are charging double the normal price. The Kremlin has publicly admitted the problem is serious and promised to fix it quickly. Ukraine’s recent successes show it can hurt Russia and change the war. At the same time, Russia’s advances have slowed down. On June 11, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reached its 1,569th day, longer than World War I.