Fuel shortages have once again been reported at filling stations in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Source: Krymskyi Veter (Crimean Wind) Telegram channel, citing Reportyor Vostochnogo Kryma (Reporter of Eastern Crimea), a local newspaper

Details: Residents of the Leninskyi district in Crimea have noticed that major petrol stations have run out of popular AI-95 petrol and diesel.

Quote: "The situation is similar in Simferopol. The ForPost outlet notes that AI-95 petrol has not been on open sale since the start of the week and can only be bought with coupons and fuel cards."

More details: Russia's occupation Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Crimea has claimed that delays and reduced volumes of fuel and lubricants being supplied to petrol stations are due to disruptions at the Kerch ferry crossing in bad weather.

Background:

• Russia's Syzran oil refinery has stopped processing crude oil since it was damaged in a Ukrainian drone strike on 5 December.
• Fuel supply problems have been observed in Russian-occupied Crimea and in a number of Russian oblasts this autumn.
• As of 24 September, all grades of petrol, including the premium A100, had completely disappeared from filling stations in Russian-occupied Crimea.
• Sergei Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, announced that stricter limits on fuel sales at petrol stations have been imposed on the peninsula.
• Mikhail Razvozhayev, Kremlin-appointed "governor" of Sevastopol, announced that effective 29 September, residents may buy no more than 30 litres of fuel per vehicle or container at petrol stations. The restriction affects petrol grades Ai-92, Ai-95, Ai-95NP and Ai-100.
• The Russian city of Yekaterinburg has introduced fuel rationing, including restrictions on diesel for the first time.
• Earlier, Russian pro-government bots began pushing the narrative that there is no petrol shortage in Russia and that rising fuel prices are "normal".
• On 4 October, the Kirishi oil refinery, one of the largest in Russia, shut down its CDU-6 crude oil distillation unit – its most powerful – after a drone attack caused a fire.
• Since early August, over 20 major oil refineries across Russia have been struck by Ukrainian drones, plunging the country's fuel market into an unprecedented crisis.
• In late November, it was reported that Belarusian rail-transported petrol exports to Russia increased fourfold in September compared with the previous month.

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