Russian-Occupied Crimea Halts Civilian Gasoline Sales After Ukrainian Strikes

Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline sales this week after intensified Ukrainian attacks targeted fuel infrastructure across the Black Sea peninsula, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Fuel stations in Russian-occupied Crimea suspend civilian gasoline sales following Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities.

Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said overnight Ukrainian strikes killed four people and injured 28 others.

Later, Aksyonov announced on social media that gasoline stations would suspend fuel sales to individuals and private companies for an indefinite period.

"Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea," he said, urging residents to remain calm and rely only on official sources of information.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted fuel depots and energy facilities in Crimea in recent weeks, contributing to what officials described as the region's most severe fuel crisis since Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Crimean oil depot and an oil transport facility in Russia's Krasnodar region were among the targets.

He described the attacks as part of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" campaign against Russia's energy infrastructure. Russian officials also reported that a Ukrainian drone strike ignited a fire at an oil terminal in the village of Chushka and struck a ferry, killing one person.