Long queues snaking for hours outside petrol stations in Simferopol have become the new normal for residents of Russian-occupied Crimea, as a sustained Ukrainian drone campaign brings Moscow’s supply lines to the verge of collapse.
At most petrol stations across the illegally annexed peninsula, locals are now limited to buying just 20 litres of fuel each using prepaid vouchers — if it is available at all. One resident told the independent website Bereg: “I walk to work now. Of course, this is less convenient than driving, but not a huge problem. All I’ve got to do now is buy a horse!”
“Ukrainian drone attacks on trucks and tankers have triggered a severe fuel shortage in occupied Crimea, with residents limited to 20 litres each.”
The crisis stems from a dramatic escalation in Ukrainian strikes on a key motorway and bridge linking the southern Russian city of Rostov to Crimea via the occupied port of Mariupol. Clément Molin, an analyst at the French-based think tank Atum Mundi, told the BBC that the road “is basically the backbone of Russian occupation in the south”.
Molin said Ukraine had carried out 300 drone strikes on trucks — including 30 tankers — since the start of May, and the campaign had become more intense this month. The attacks have crippled the ability of Russian forces to supply military and civilian goods to the territories they hold.
The shortages have become so acute that Moscow-installed authorities have launched a special hotline to help stranded Russian tourists, who arrived in Crimea before the crisis began and now cannot find fuel to leave. Videos circulating on social media show long lines at petrol stations across the region, with residents routinely queuing for up to 10 hours.
Skyrocketing petrol and diesel prices have added to the desperation. On 5 June, the Kremlin-appointed regional head, Sergei Aksyonov, admitted: “Unfortunately, it does not appear possible to fully satisfy the demand for fuel at the current moment.” He warned that hundreds of buses would not leave depots due to shortages.
The roads remain the last viable supply route to the peninsula. The sea route is too dangerous after a number of ferries serving Crimea were taken out of action by Ukraine. Previous attacks — or the threat of them — have restricted traffic on the Kerch bridge linking Crimea with Russia.
Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, is strategically important for Moscow, serving as a launchpad for drones and missiles targeting the rest of Ukraine. Its Mediterranean climate and long beaches also make it a popular summer holiday destination for Russians. But with fuel supplies disrupted and tourists venting online, the occupation is facing a growing logistical nightmare.