“Gasoline collapse in the temporarily occupied Crimea”: why fuel has disappeared from gas stations and who is suffering the most
24 September 2025 18:34
on September 24, all brands of gasoline, including the most expensive A100, disappeared from gas stations in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Some gas stations stopped working altogether to avoid paying salaries to their employees. This was reported by the publication Krym.Realii, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
A local human rights activist commented to journalists that the situation affected both ordinary drivers and businesses.
How Crimeans react
According to the source, budgetary institutions still receive fuel with vouchers, albeit in a minimal amount. The private sector, on the other hand, is in a critical situation: companies are losing transportation opportunities and incurring losses.
There are fewer cars on the roads, public transportation is overloaded, and minibuses are packed. People are openly expressing their indignation, accusing the Kremlin leadership of failing to deal with the crisis.
Why did the crisis arise?
Analysts attribute the shortage to the consequences of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refining infrastructure. According to Reuters, as of the end of August, Russian refiners had lost about 17% of their capacity.
Fuel shortages have already been observed in 20 regions of Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. At the same time, the cost of petroleum products is rising.
What’s next
Experts note that in case of further destruction of the refinery, the situation may become even more acute: the Russian authorities will have to choose between domestic supply and export contracts. For Crimea, which is logistically isolated, the consequences could be even more severe.
Fuel crises in Crimea after 2014
This is not the first time the peninsula has experienced fuel shortages. Since the occupation in 2014, Crimea has repeatedly faced supply disruptions due to sanctions and the lack of direct supply routes from mainland Russia.
In 2015-2016, there were often long lines at gas stations and gasoline prices were higher than in neighboring Russian regions. In 2022-2023, after the full-scale invasion, the shortage worsened due to logistical problems and attacks on the Crimean bridge.
The current “gasoline collapse” is the largest in recent years, as for the first time all fuel brands have disappeared at the same time, effectively paralyzing the peninsula’s transportation system.
