On this photograph offered by Ukraine’s sixty fifth Mechanized Brigade press service, a soldier practices army abilities at a coaching floor close to the frontline within the Zaporizhzhia area, Ukraine, Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Andriy Andriyenko/Ukrainian 65 Mechanized brigade/AP
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Andriy Andriyenko/Ukrainian 65 Mechanized brigade/AP
Officers in Russia-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline gross sales Sunday as Ukraine ramped up assaults on gas provides on the Black Sea peninsula.
Gov. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, mentioned that in a single day Ukrainian strikes killed 4 individuals and wounded 28 others. He didn’t specify the goal of the assault.
He later wrote on social media that native fuel stations would halt all gross sales to non-state firms and people for an undefined interval.
“Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea,” Aksyonov mentioned. “I ask everyone to remain calm and to only trust official sources of information.”
Ukrainian forces have repeatedly focused gas provides to Crimea in current weeks, triggering the worst power disaster within the area because it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in an announcement Sunday {that a} Crimean oil depot, in addition to an oil transport facility in Russia’s southern Krasnodar area had been among the many targets. He described the assaults as a part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” in opposition to Russia’s power infrastructure.
“Russia understands only strength, and our long-range strength is certainly working for peace,” he wrote.
Russian officers in Krasnodar reported earlier Sunday {that a} drone strike sparked a fireplace at a Black Sea oil terminal within the village of Chushka. They mentioned that Ukrainian assaults struck a ferry, killing one individual.
Motorists wrestle to seek out gas
The Crimean peninsula has had periodic gas shortages from Ukrainian strikes earlier than, however the present disaster is the worst since its 2014 annexation.
On the finish of Could, authorities restricted the sale of fuel to twenty liters (5 1/3 gallons) per car proprietor per week, utilizing pay as you go coupons. These had been snapped up instantly following their launch on an official messaging app channel, and motorists lined up for hours, ready to refuel.
Social networks have been abuzz with requests and recommendation on the place to seek out gas, and authorities launched a hotline for vacationers within the space who’ve discovered themselves trapped.
Some motorists convey their very own fuel from Krasnodar and elsewhere through the Kerch bridge, however they’re restricted to carrying 100 liters (about 26 1/2 gallons) per car. Some speculators are promoting fuel at double the market value.
In a uncommon public acknowledgment, the Kremlin has acknowledged the scope of the issue and promised to handle the problem rapidly.
Nonetheless, Ukraine’s successes have highlighted its capability to inflict painful harm on Russia and alter the course of the battle whereas Moscow’s advances just lately have floor to a close to halt. On June 11, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reached its 1,569th day, surpassing the period of World Warfare I.
