Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Russia-appointed authorities in Crimea have suspended civilian petrol sales after Ukraine stepped up attacks on fuel supplies on the Black Sea peninsula. The move came after overnight strikes that, according to Crimea’s Kremlin-backed head Sergey Aksyonov, killed four people and wounded 28.
Aksyonov later said local petrol stations would stop sales to non-state companies and individuals for an unspecified period. Ukraine said a Crimean oil depot and an oil transport facility in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region were among the targets, as it continued strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
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In a post on social media, Aksyonov said, “Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea. I ask everyone to remain calm and to only trust official sources of information.” He did not specify the target of the overnight attack.
Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted fuel supplies in Crimea in recent weeks, deepening what has become the region’s worst energy crisis since Russia illegally annexed the peninsula in 2014. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that the strikes were part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia’s energy infrastructure. “Russia understands only strength, and our long-range strength is certainly working for peace,” he wrote.
Russian officials in Krasnodar said earlier on Sunday that a drone strike caused a fire at a Black Sea oil terminal in the village of Chushka. They also said Ukrainian attacks hit a ferry, killing one person.
Crimea has faced fuel shortages after Ukrainian strikes before, but the current disruption is the most severe since 2014. At the end of May, authorities limited sales to 20 litres per vehicle owner each week through prepaid coupons. Those were taken up immediately after being released on an official messaging app channel, and motorists queued for hours to refuel.
Social media has since filled with requests and tips on where fuel may be available, while authorities have opened a hotline for tourists stranded in the area. Some motorists have been bringing petrol from Krasnodar and other places across the Kerch bridge, though they can carry only up to 100 litres per vehicle. Some speculators are selling fuel at twice the market price.
In a rare public acknowledgement, the Kremlin has recognised the scale of the problem and promised to deal with it quickly. The latest strikes have once again disrupted fuel supplies in Crimea, forcing the authorities to reserve sales for state agencies while shortages continue to affect residents and visitors.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
