Russian-held Crimea grapples with fuel shortages amid Ukrainian drone attacks

SEVASTOPOL, Crimea - Residents in Russian-controlled Crimea were grappling with gasoline rationing on Wednesday after Ukrainian drone attacks constricted supplies from Russia, a Reuters witness said.

More than four years since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia is facing almost daily Ukrainian attacks on its oil infrastructure while Western sanctions have made crude exports more costly as its own attacks on Ukraine continue.

Ukraine's drone attacks have focused on the two main arteries for supplies to Crimea - across Russian-controlled regions of southeastern Ukraine or across the Kerch Strait between Crimea and Russia's Taman peninsula.

A Reuters witness said that in some shops there had been shortages of sugar over recent days and limits on the purchase of more than 5 kg (11 lb) of buckwheat, a Russian staple, but that shelves were now stocked and there was no sign of panic.

The Reuters witness said there had been some queues for fuel with limits of 20 litres per person and QR codes linked to number plates issued for purchases.

"The 20-litre limit is still in effect," Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, said on Telegram.

"I appeal to motorists who go to refuel today: before going to the gas station, check the availability of fuel."

MUSEUM ON FIRE

In the latest Ukrainian strikes, drones hit a historic museum in Sevastopol, local authorities said on Wednesday, as they reduced the number of trains travelling at night.

Russia took control of Crimea in 2014 after Ukraine's pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted during protests. After Crimea voted in a disputed referendum to become part of Russia, Moscow formally annexed the peninsula, but few countries recognise it as part of the Russian Federation.

Crimea was absorbed into the Russian Empire along with most of what is now modern Ukrainian territory by Catherine the Great in the 18th century. It became part of Russia within the Soviet Union until 1954, when it was handed to Ukraine, also then a Soviet republic, by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has ruled out ceding territory occupied by Russian forces and has said Ukrainian sovereignty of Crimea must be restored.

(Reporting by Reuters, editing by Neil Fullick)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 4:35 AM.