2 September 2026
Crimean occupation authorities have tightened restrictions on fuel sales—gasoline and diesel fuel will now be sold on the peninsula for only four hours a day. According to Sergei Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed “head” of the region, due to insufficient fuel supplies, a decision has been made to organize sales in two phases: in the morning from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM and in the evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
An hour before sales begin, at 7:00 AM, the Crimean Ministry of Fuel and Energy’s interactive map will display information about which gas stations have gasoline and diesel fuel. “I recommend checking the map before leaving to avoid wasting time,” Aksyonov wrote on his Telegram channel, acknowledging that “fuel supplies to the region do not yet fully meet residents’ needs.”
Since June, Russia has been experiencing a systemic fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries. Since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian drones have attacked Russian refineries more than 70 times, disabling several dozen facilities, including the largest. As a result, oil refining in Russia fell to its lowest level since May 2002—3.6 million barrels per day—recovering in August to 4 million barrels. This led to fuel disappearing from more than 70% of gas stations across the country.
At the same time, Ukrainian forces began targeting fuel supplies to Crimea, including attacking Russian ships supplying the peninsula. Kyiv stated its intention to isolate the occupied peninsula.
At the end of June, the free sale of fuel, including with coupons, ceased in Crimea, after which the Moscow-appointed “authorities” declared a state of emergency until the “situation improved.”