Severe petrol shortage in Russian-occupied Sevastopol, queues are forming at filling stations

Roman Petrenko - 23 May, 09:23

Filling station price sign. Photo: social media

The situation with petrol availability at filling stations in Russian-occupied Sevastopol has deteriorated sharply on the evening of 22 May.

Source: Krym.Realii, a Crimea-related project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, citing local residents

Details: Shortages of petrol and rising fuel prices have been observed in Sevastopol since the evening of 21 May.

"After representatives of the Russian authorities announced limits on petrol sales per customer [no more than 20 litres], citing 'logistical difficulties', long queues of cars had formed at filling stations by evening," a local resident said.

Drivers are confused, with no clarity about what will happen next. City bus drivers say they will be issued petrol using coupons.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Kremlin-appointed "governor" of Sevastopol, promised that authorities are trying to normalise the situation as quickly as possible. His deputy, citing "certain logistical difficulties", said that petrol sales would be restricted at one of the filling stations in Sevastopol to no more than 20 litres per canister or vehicle to "prevent artificial panic".

Russian media outlets also reported that diesel fuel is currently being dispensed via coupons.

Background:

On the night of 16-17 May, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), together with Ukraine's defence forces, struck the Belbek airfield in occupied Crimea.
On the night of 22-23 April, drones struck an oil depot in the city of Feodosiia, while explosions were also reported in other parts of temporarily occupied Crimea.

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