Russian authorities ban sale of fuel in occupied crime

Sergei Aksyonov, the prorus leader of the peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, said that from June 21st, crime stations will not sell anyone except state agencies.

“carburant will be supplied exclusively to state agencies responsible for maintaining essential services and ensuring security”, Aksyonov said in a short video distributed on the telegram.

He did not give any clear deadlines on when fuel sales will resume.

Russian crime authorities have long had difficulty providing sufficient supplies for some 2 million people, including water and food.

Now, in the context of recent developments in the war in Ukraine, a lack of fuel has emerged.

Over the past few months, the Ukrainian Army has increased its fears by hitting trucks carrying fuel to Crime, reports REL, broadcast Periscope.

This region is linked to Russia only through the Curchi Bridge and a corridor about 60 miles [100 km] of Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine has also hit oil refinerys, pipelines and other energy infrastructure in Russia.

These attacks have affected the lack of fuel not only in Crime - where the economy depends heavily on Russian tourists - but also in other parts of Russia.

Ukraine's president, Voldymyr Zelensky, has described these attacks as “long-range sanctions” against Russia, which largely financed its war in Ukraine through oil revenues.

During his report on June 21st, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces have hit <x0 naval logistics used for transporting oil to the Russian region of Krasnodar and an oil depot in temporarily occupied Krchin”.

Besides, military logistics facilities have been successfully hit, as well as four radar stations belonging to air defense systems... Russia understands only force, and our long-range force is undoubtedly functioning for peace”, he added.

Aksyonov confirmed that the attacks targeted Krik in the Crimea and said four people were killed and 28 others were injured by the Ukrainian attack.

He didn't specify whether any oil plants in the area were hit.

Russian and Ukrainian channels on telegram published images showing black smoke rising from the area.

Radio Free Europe could not independently verify these reports. /Periscope