Drivers in Russian-controlled Crimea were struggling with gasoline rationing on Monday after Ukrainian drone strikes restricted road supplies across southeastern Ukraine, Reuters witnesses and officials said.
More than four years after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia faces near-daily attacks on its oil infrastructure by Ukraine as Western sanctions drive up the cost of oil exports.
Crimea’s Moscow-backed governor, Sergei Aksyonov, said restrictions have been imposed on the sale of the most commonly used gasoline, Ai-95, and fuel coupons must be used for purchases.
In Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city and the traditional base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, long lines formed at gas stations, a Reuters witness reported.
“I haven’t been able to fill my stomach for two days now,” resident Oksana Senchenko told Reuters.
“Yesterday we didn’t have gas, and today when I’m driving around town, there’s no gas on 92 or 95,” she said.
Russia took control of Crimea in 2014 after Ukraine’s pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February 2014 protests. Russia officially annexed Crimea after it voted in a disputed referendum to become part of Russia.
Crimea, which juts into the Black Sea off the coast of southern Ukraine, was absorbed into the Russian Empire by Catherine the Great in the 18th century, along with most of Ukraine’s territory.
It became part of Russia within the Soviet Union until 1954, when it was handed over to Ukraine, then also a Soviet republic, by Stalin’s successor Nikita Khrushchev.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has denied ceding territory occupied by Russian forces and said Ukraine must restore sovereignty over Crimea.
The Russian government announced on Monday a ban on exports of aviation fuel until November 30th.
Oleg Tsalyov, a pro-Russian former Ukrainian lawmaker, said the road connecting Crimea to the northern mainland had been attacked by Ukraine.
“Fuel in Crimea is sold in limited quantities through ration coupons. The reason is Ukrainian drone attacks on fuel trucks on the ‘Novorossia’ highway, the land route connecting mainland Russia and Crimea,” Tsaryov said.
The Russian-backed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, called on people to remain calm and not panic.
“The current difficulties are related to the need to strengthen safety measures and optimize the logistics routes used to deliver fuel to our cities. These are temporary, but objective challenges that we can overcome,” he said.
Sales restrictions have also been introduced at fuel filling stations in other regions of Russia, including the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, Reuters witnesses said.
