The Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia, has been officially placed under a regional state of emergency, as announced on Friday by Sergei Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed governor. This declaration aims to assist authorities in managing the fallout from recent Ukrainian strikes, which have led to significant shortages of fuel and electricity, according to reports from AFP and Agerpres.
Aksyonov stated in a message on Telegram that “the legal framework of the emergency situation allows for the swift regulation of issues related to the operation of all essential sectors.” This measure is intended to facilitate the mobilization of resources and theoretically allows for the implementation of restrictions affecting the local population.
Fuel Sales to Residents Halted Completely Since Sunday
Just a day prior, Aksyonov had announced the introduction of electricity cuts across the entire peninsula to cope with shortages caused by the Ukrainian bombardments.
Since May, Kiev has imposed an energy blockade on Crimea, targeting infrastructure and tanker trucks supplying the peninsula.
Local authorities prohibited the sale of fuel to individuals last Sunday due to the shortages brought on by these attacks.
Annexed by Russia in 2014 following a military operation, Crimea is located on the Black Sea coast in southern Ukraine and hosts several Russian military bases. Some Russian troops launched their operations from Crimea in February 2022, at the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
