The Kremlin responded to the fuel crisis in Crimea by blaming Ukraine for the shortage
Russian authorities are trying to minimize the impact of a large-scale fuel crisis in the temporarily occupied Crimea, where the sale of fuel to civilians at gas stations has been completely suspended.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian government is coordinating efforts with oil companies to stabilize the situation, but, as usual, blamed the shortage on the “barbaric actions of the Kyiv regime.”
Critical problems with the supply of petroleum products and a sharp rise in prices on the peninsula have intensified following a series of successful strikes by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on Russian oil depots and key logistics infrastructure facilities. According to estimates by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Ukrainian military is systematically disrupting supplies to the occupying forces and gradually isolating Crimea from its main supply routes. Amid the fuel crisis, the invaders have already imposed strict restrictions and closed access to gas stations for ordinary citizens, causing a black market for fuel to rapidly emerge on the peninsula.
In the temporarily occupied Crimea, fuel problems could escalate into a much more serious crisis. Due to logistical difficulties on the peninsula, prices have already begun to rise, lines are forming, and residents are increasingly stocking up on essential goods.
The shortage of automotive fuel, which was previously observed in the temporarily occupied Crimea, has begun to spread to the southern regions of the Russian Federation. Residents of the Krasnodar Krai and the Rostov Oblast are reporting shortages of gasoline and diesel fuel.
