Canisters are being stolen on a massive scale in Crimea due to fears of a shortage
According to local sources, petty crime is on the rise on the occupied Crimean Peninsula, and residents are increasingly stocking up on fuel out of fear of shortages. Against this backdrop, in Stary Krym, power outages and disruptions to mobile service have been reported for the second consecutive day following reports of damage to a power substation.
On the occupied Crimean Peninsula, an increasing number of residents are reporting a deterioration in their daily lives. According to the Crimean Tatar news outlet “SEMAAT,” thefts from farm buildings have surged sharply in several villages in the Leninsky District in recent weeks. Whereas thieves used to take anything that could be sold quickly, they now have a new “specialty”—fuel canisters. Local residents say that thieves are breaking into garages, sheds, and utility rooms specifically to steal metal and plastic gasoline containers. The reason is simple—due to increased demand, their value has risen significantly. The cans have become an easy item to resell, even if they’re empty.
According to local residents, more and more people are trying to stock up on gasoline. Even those who don’t own a car are buying fuel. People attribute this to fears that shortages may soon arise not only for gasoline but also for other essential goods. “I’ve stockpiled 300 liters of gasoline. I spent over a thousand dollars on it. When there’s a shortage of food or medicine, gasoline can be traded for food or essential medications,” said Rustem, a resident of Stary Krym. Such sentiments indicate that some people are preparing for potential new hardships. For many, fuel is no longer just a resource for cars and is increasingly seen as a kind of reserve in case of a crisis.
People are afraid to speak openly
At the same time, local residents make no secret of the fact that they are afraid to openly express their dissatisfaction with the situation. According to people interviewed by “SEMAAAT,” many are convinced that any criticism could lead to persecution. “Russia couldn’t care less about the suffering of the peninsula’s residents. If you don’t like the shelling or the shortages, they’ll deport you to the boundless Russian expanses. They don’t even need Crimea as a summer home; they’ll destroy everything—people and all—for the sake of ‘greatness,’” says Inga, a resident of Staryi Krym.
Her words are a personal assessment of the situation. It is currently impossible to independently verify these claims.
Staryi Krym Is Without Power
Power outages have become a separate problem. According to Ukrainian sources, on July 3, Ukrainian drones struck a key 110-kilovolt power substation in the Stary Krym area.
Russian authorities have not officially reported this incident. At the same time, local residents confirm that, following a fire at the power facility, the city has been without electricity and mobile internet for two days now. Due to the outages, people have faced difficulties in their daily lives. Some stores are closed, communication problems have arisen, and people can only charge their phones or access the internet in select locations with backup power sources.
The Ukrainian side reports damage to energy facilities
According to Robert Brovdi, commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, whose call sign is “Madyar,” nine power substations have been hit in occupied Crimea so far. There is currently no official confirmation of this information from independent sources. The Russian side has also not commented on the extent of the damage to the power infrastructure.
Despite this, local residents report that the situation regarding electricity and communications has become significantly more difficult in recent days. Against this backdrop, people are increasingly stocking up on fuel, food, and other essentials, fearing further disruptions and a worsening of the situation. This was reported by “SEMAAT.”
In Ufa, people have begun complaining en masse about a critical deterioration in gasoline quality at gas stations. Published footage shows that the fuel is separating right inside plastic bottles, which may indicate serious violations of production technology or improper mixing of components.
Earlier, the Russian presidential administration sent special “recommendations” to state-run and pro-government media outlets regarding how exactly to report on the fuel shortage in the country.
The fuel crisis is also intensifying in Russia: gasoline is running out at gas stations and lines are growing longer.
Russia has allowed lower-quality gasoline due to the fuel crisis.
