Russian authorities in Crimea have declared a state of emergency due to continued Ukrainian attacks, which have led to severe fuel shortages. Peninsula head Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram that the decision will allow authorities to make it easier to make decisions that stabilize the region.
They didn’t elaborate on what the measure will entail. However, Crimea recently halted gas sales for civilians indefinitely, with Aksyonov saying they are needed to “ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea.”
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Kyiv has been targeting fuel supplies to Crimea in the past weeks, creating the worst energy crisis in the region since Moscow seized the peninsula in 2014. The city of Sevastopol on Monday announced “enforced temporary measures” to address the situation, including the end of public transport after 10 p.m. and the closure of large shops and cafes two hours earlier.
These measures include the end of public transport after 10 p.m. and the closure of large shops and cafes two hours earlier. Street lights will also be turned off during parts of the day.
Russian hardliners are urging President Vladimir Putin to escalate attacks against Ukraine as Kyiv is increasingly able to strike deep inside the country and target critical infrastructure, according to a new report.
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Moscow hawks have long called for different types of escalations, including the assassination of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons. However, the calls have intensified following Ukraine’s attacks that managed to strike Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Crimea.
So far, Russia has refrained from abandoning negotiations, even if they have not made progress over the past months. The situation remains tense, with both sides exchanging blows and accusations, and the international community has not recognized the annexation of Crimea.
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The United States and other Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its actions in Ukraine, having significant humanitarian and economic consequences, with thousands of people displaced and a major impact on the global economy.
It is a major point of tension between the two countries.