{"slug": "ukrainian-attacks-prompt-russian-held-crimea-to-halt-civilian-gasoline-sales", "title": "Ukrainian attacks prompt Russian-held Crimea to halt civilian gasoline sales", "summary": "Ukrainian attacks on fuel supplies in Russian-occupied Crimea prompted officials to suspend civilian gasoline sales Sunday, with Governor Sergey Aksyonov reporting four killed and 28 wounded. The halt, affecting non-state entities, marks the worst energy crisis since Crimea's 2014 annexation as Ukraine intensifies strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.", "body_md": "# Ukrainian attacks prompt Russian-held Crimea to halt civilian gasoline sales\n\n## Officials in Russia-occupied Crimea have suspended civilian gasoline sales as Ukraine increases attacks on fuel supplies\n\n- Bookmark\n\nOfficials in Russia-occupied [Crimea](/topic/crimea) suspended civilian gasoline sales Sunday as Ukraine ramped up attacks on fuel supplies on the [Black Sea](/topic/black-sea) peninsula.\n\nGov. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head o Crimea, said that overnight Ukrainian strikes killed four people and wounded 28 others. He did not specify the target of the attack.\n\nHe later wrote on social media that local gas stations would halt all sales to non-state companies and individuals for an undefined period.\n\n“Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea,” Aksyonov said. “I ask everyone to remain calm and to only trust official sources of information.”\n\nUkrainian forces have repeatedly targeted fuel supplies to Crimea in recent weeks, triggering the worst energy crisis in the region since it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.\n\nUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement Sunday that a Crimean oil depot, as well as an oil transport facility in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region were among the targets. He described the attacks as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia’s energy infrastructure.\n\n“Russia understands only strength, and our long-range strength is certainly working for peace,” he wrote.\n\nRussian officials in Krasnodar reported earlier Sunday that a drone strike sparked a fire at a Black Sea oil terminal in the village of Chushka. They said that Ukrainian attacks struck a ferry, killing one person.\n\nMotorists struggle to find fuel\n\nThe Crimean peninsula has had periodic fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes before, but the current crisis is the worst since its 2014 annexation.\n\nAt the end of May, authorities restricted the sale of gas to 20 liters (5 1/3 gallons) per vehicle owner per week, using prepaid coupons. Those were snapped up immediately following their release on an official messaging app channel, and motorists lined up for hours, waiting to refuel.\n\nSocial networks have been abuzz with requests and advice on where to find fuel, and authorities launched a hotline for tourists in the area who have found themselves trapped.\n\nSome motorists bring their own gas from Krasnodar and elsewhere via the Kerch bridge, but they are restricted to carrying 100 liters (about 26 1/2 gallons) per vehicle. Some speculators are selling gas at double the market price.\n\nIn a rare public acknowledgment, the [Kremlin](/topic/kremlin) has recognized the scope of the problem and promised to address the issue quickly.\n\nHowever, Ukraine’s successes have highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and change the course of the conflict while Moscow’s advances recently have ground to a near halt. On June 11, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reached its 1,569th day, surpassing the duration of World War I.\n\n___\n\nFollow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ukrainian-attacks-prompt-russian-held-crimea-to-halt-civilian-gasoline-sales", "canonical_source": "https://www.independent.co.uk/news/crimea-black-sea-kremlin-social-networks-moscow-b2999863.html", "published_at": "2026-06-21 09:43:43+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-21 10:13:17.025576+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy"], "entities": ["Crimea", "Sergey Aksyonov", "Volodymyr Zelenskyy", "Kremlin", "Black Sea", "Krasnodar", "Kerch bridge", "AP"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ukrainian-attacks-prompt-russian-held-crimea-to-halt-civilian-gasoline-sales", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ukrainian-attacks-prompt-russian-held-crimea-to-halt-civilian-gasoline-sales.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ukrainian-attacks-prompt-russian-held-crimea-to-halt-civilian-gasoline-sales.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ukrainian-attacks-prompt-russian-held-crimea-to-halt-civilian-gasoline-sales.jsonld"}}