Gas stations throughout the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula were without fuel Thursday, according to Reuters witnesses on the ground, as Ukraine continues its campaign of attacking supply routes to the region.
A Reuters reporter in Sevastopol, the peninsula’s main city, observed that most local gas stations had no fuel available, with supplies failing to meet demand even under the rationing system put in place in recent weeks.
In the resort community of Yevpatoriya, another witness reported seeing a lengthy line at the only functioning gas station in the area.
Ukraine has been stepping up drone attacks on supply corridors to the peninsula, which Russia took control of from Ukraine in 2014. Regional officials have put fuel rationing measures in place, and some food items are also becoming scarce.
Reuters data shows fuel shortages have been documented in traditional and social media across 13 regions. Just three regions – Crimea and two Siberian areas – have officially acknowledged the shortages.
Most other regions have stated the situation remains manageable and attributed some disruptions to panic purchasing. Moscow has rejected claims of fuel supply issues.
State-owned bank Sberbank has indicated that increasing fuel costs pose an additional inflation threat to Russia’s economy.
DELIVERY TRUCKS BLOCKED FROM REACHING CITY
Wednesday saw Russian-backed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev announce that plans to distribute rationed gasoline had been postponed because delivery trucks could not reach the city following recent Ukrainian attacks on supply corridors.
Crimea receives most of its fuel through road and rail transport via Russian-controlled territories to the north, areas Moscow captured in 2022. These transportation routes have faced increasing disruption from drone strikes.
Previously, fuel reached Crimea through barge deliveries to an oil facility in Feodosia, but those shipments stopped after Ukraine attacked the terminal in April.
In Sevastopol, the Moscow-appointed governor reported that Ukrainian drones caused minor damage during overnight attacks, with 33 drones shot down. The Russian-backed governor of the Moscow-controlled section of Kherson region, which sits north of Crimea, said Ukraine had targeted regional bridges, resulting in some damage.
Ukrainian forces also conducted strikes in southern Russia overnight, officials reported, causing damage including a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery that was later put out.
The governor of nearby Adygea also confirmed damage to civilian infrastructure throughout the region.
