Annexed Crimea has been placed in a regional “emergency situation”, local Russian officials announced Friday, a regime aimed at dealing with the consequences of recent Ukrainian strikes that caused serious shortages of fuel and electricity.
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For several weeks, the Ukrainian army has undertaken an energy blockade of Crimea – conquered by Russian forces in 2014 – by striking infrastructure and tankers supplying the peninsula.
These bombings forced the authorities to suspend the sale of fuel to individuals in Crimea, to introduce power cuts, but also to cancel all the holiday camps planned there this summer.
The establishment of the “emergency situation” regime should make it possible to release more resources and theoretically also provides for the possibility of putting in place restrictions targeting the local population.
“The legal framework of the emergency situation makes it possible to resolve with maximum speed the issues related to maintaining the functioning of all essential sectors,” assured the governor appointed by Moscow, Sergei Aksionov, on Telegram on Friday.
In another statement, published Thursday, he also acknowledged that Crimea was going through “a difficult period” and that “the situation regarding fuel is the most critical”, comments contrasting with the usual assurance of the authorities.
“I cannot say exactly how long this will take, nor can I publicly disclose the specific action plan. However, we are taking action,” he assured. “Unfortunately (…), there is no air defense system in the world that is absolutely perfect,” he added.
The Ukrainian security services (SBU) said on Friday they had struck two Russian ships providing logistical support to the army and air defense systems in Kerch.
“The destruction of air defense systems opens the way to further precision strikes while the neutralization of port infrastructure compromises the occupiers’ ability to resupply their troops,” the SBU said.
“Not usual”
Since the launch of the large-scale offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, the Crimean peninsula, located in the south of Ukrainian territory and bordered by the Black Sea, has been one of the combat zones between the two camps.
The peninsula, which is home to numerous Russian military bases, is regularly targeted by Ukrainian attacks, in particular naval attacks which forced Moscow to withdraw part of its fleet stationed in Crimea.
But this is the first time since 2022 that the peninsula has faced such energy shortages.
“There has never been anything like this, this is not an ordinary season,” marvels Alexander, a 72-year-old Muscovite currently living in Feodosia, in the south-east of Crimea, contacted remotely by AFP.
This man, who does not wish to give his last name, says that explosions and gunfire have echoed during the night in recent days.
Annexed in 2014 by Russia, the peninsula constitutes an important political symbol for President Vladimir Putin.
It was in particular from Crimea that Russian troops launched in February 2022 at the start of the massive attack against Ukraine.
In recent months, thanks to technological developments in its drone production, Kyiv has intensified its campaign of strikes in Russia and in regions of Ukraine under Russian control.
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 660 Ukrainian drones during the night from Thursday to Friday, announced the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, one of the highest numbers since the start of the conflict.
These drones were notably destroyed over more than a dozen regions including that of Moscow, as well as in the annexed Crimean peninsula, in the Black Sea and in the Sea of Azov, the ministry said.
Kyiv is particularly targeting energy infrastructure, in order to dry up the hydrocarbon windfall which allows the Kremlin to finance its war effort.
Last week, a Ukrainian attack led to an impressive fire in a refinery in the southeast of Moscow.
At the same time, Ukraine and Russia carried out a new exchange of prisoners of war on Friday involving 160 people in each camp, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. Prisoner exchanges are one of the last areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow.
