Crimea without gasoline: fuel crisis paralyzes occupied peninsula

Published on June 22, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Starting this Sunday, gasoline sales in Crimea have been suspended following Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and oil depots. Only government agencies have access to fuel. Drivers cannot fill their tanks, paralyzing daily mobility, food transport, and basic supplies, plunging the population into uncertainty.

Empty fuel station in occupied Crimea, cracked asphalt ground, three cars parked with open fuel caps showing empty tanks, a driver holding a dry fuel nozzle looking frustrated, nearby a military truck blocking the road, red warning tape around fuel pumps, distant smoke rising from oil depot ruins, grey overcast sky, cinematic photorealistic style, dramatic shadows, dust particles in air, abandoned atmosphere, ultra-detailed textures on concrete and metal, wide-angle shot capturing isolation and crisis

The Logistics of Occupation: How Ukrainian Drone Technology Reshapes Energy Supply 🚁

Long-range drone attacks have struck key points of Russian oil infrastructure, such as the Tuapse refinery and depots in Krasnodar. This disrupts the supply chain to Crimea, where reserves are running out. Asymmetric warfare technology, combined with satellite navigation systems, allows Ukraine to impact strategic targets without needing troops on the ground, forcing Russia to ration basic resources in annexed territory.

The Horse-Drawn Carriage: Crimea's Plan B Amid the Gasoline Drought 🐴

Faced with the fuel shortage, Crimeans might rediscover the benefits of horse-drawn transport. That is, as long as the animal does not need feed imported from Russia, because then we would have a biomass problem. Meanwhile, officials drive around in their SUVs with full tanks, and citizens stare at the empty pump like someone looking at a meme of a Russian tank: with disbelief and a certain resignation.