Fuel sales have been suspended in Crimea and the Kerch crossing has been closed
In occupied Crimea, following strikes on fuel and logistics infrastructure, restrictions have been imposed on the sale of fuel, transport operations and the operation of retail outlets.
The occupying administration in Sevastopol has announced that on 22 and 23 June, fuel will not be sold to the general public. Refuelling will be restricted to vehicles belonging to the emergency services, which are essential to the city’s functioning.
Public transport timetables in the city have also been changed. Services will run from 05:30 to 21:00. Ferry services have been temporarily suspended; only passenger boats will be operating.
Shopping centres, supermarkets and hypermarkets will be open from 07:00 to 20:00. Street lighting in Sevastopol will not be switched on.
The occupying authorities have also warned of possible temporary power cuts due to overloading of the electricity grid and have urged residents to reduce their electricity consumption.
Furthermore, in occupied Crimea, the sale of petrol and diesel to the civilian population and businesses has been completely halted. The restrictions came into force on 21 June.
Fuel is no longer being sold at any petrol stations on the peninsula, regardless of the method of payment. Only state services responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure and ensuring security are permitted to obtain it.
The Kerch ferry crossing has also been temporarily closed. Drivers of heavy goods vehicles have been advised to use an alternative route via Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Mariupol, Melitopol and Simferopol.
On the night of 21 June, Ukrainian drones struck the oil depot at the Kerch commercial port, which is used for the storage and transhipment of petroleum products via the Kerch Strait.
This facility supplies fuel to vessels and supports the ferry service between Crimea and the Krasnodar Krai.
The attack also caused a fire at an oil terminal in the village of Chushka in the Temryuk District of the Krasnodar Krai. The facility forms part of the infrastructure of the Port of Kavkaz, one of the largest transport and logistics hubs in southern Russia.
In addition, the ‘Panagia’ ferry on the Kerch crossing was hit. According to the Russian side, one person was killed and another injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed strikes on targets on both sides of the Crimean Bridge. These include an oil depot in occupied Kerch and maritime logistics facilities for oil transport in the Krasnodar Region.
He also stated that air defence systems had been hit, specifically four radar stations belonging to S-400 systems and two ‘Pantsir’ systems.
