"Fuel would be reserved for government agencies responsible for the region's functioning and security."
Officials in Russian-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline sales on Sunday, June 11, following a series of Ukrainian attacks targeting local fuel supplies. The decision came after overnight strikes which, according to the Moscow-appointed governor, resulted in casualties.
The move is the latest in a series of fuel restrictions imposed on the peninsula after weeks of Ukrainian operations against Russian energy infrastructure.
Fuel Sales Restrictions & Casualties
Crimean Governor Sergey Aksyonov announced the suspension of gasoline sales to the general public, stating that fuel would be reserved for government agencies responsible for the region's functioning and security. No end date for the measure was provided.
Aksyonov reported that overnight Ukrainian strikes on June 10-11 killed four people and wounded 28 others in Crimea. He did not specify the exact location or target of the strikes.
Parallel Attacks in Krasnodar Region
Russian officials in the Krasnodar region reported separate incidents:
- A drone strike caused a fire at a Black Sea oil terminal in Chushka village.
- An attack on a ferry in the region resulted in one fatality.
Ukrainian Stated Objectives
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a Crimean oil depot and an oil transport facility in Russia's Krasnodar region were among the targets. He described the operations as part of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" against Russia's energy infrastructure.
Background on the Fuel Crisis
The suspension of civilian sales is the most severe measure in an ongoing fuel crisis in Crimea. Previous restrictions were introduced after Ukrainian strikes intensified in late May:
- May 30: Authorities limited gasoline sales to 20 liters per vehicle owner per week, distributed via prepaid coupons.
- Motorist Impact: Long queues at filling stations have been reported. Some motorists have transported fuel from Krasnodar across the Kerch Bridge, with a vehicle limit of 100 liters.
- Secondary Market: Reports indicate that gasoline has been sold by speculators at up to double the official market price.
The Kremlin has acknowledged the fuel shortages and stated that steps would be taken to resolve the issue. The situation has been described by some officials as the most significant energy disruption in Crimea since Russia's annexation of the peninsula in 2014.