‘How Do I Get to the Doctor?’ – Russians React to Halted Gasoline Sales in Crimea

“How am I supposed to get to the doctor? Walk?”

Frustration is growing in occupied Crimea, according to an intercepted phone call released by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), in which a local resident complained about fuel shortages and collapsing transportation services as Russia continues prioritizing military needs over civilian demand.

In the recording, a woman from the northern Crimean city of Armyansk described growing difficulties obtaining fuel and using public transportation.

“There is no gasoline,” she said in Russian. “Trains are running poorly. It takes eight hours to get from Armyansk to Simferopol by train. Minibuses are not running at all. I don’t even know how to get to an eye doctor anymore. I might have to walk.”

The woman said the problems began around two weeks ago and were likely to worsen during the summer.

According to HUR, the shortages are a consequence of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign against Russian oil refineries and fuel infrastructure, which Kyiv has described as “long-range sanctions.”

“In a number of regions of the aggressor state and in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, shortages have emerged at gas stations,” HUR said in a statement.

The intelligence agency claimed Russia is increasingly diverting fuel supplies to sustain occupation forces and military operations, leaving civilians with reduced access to basic services.

HUR said responsibility for conditions in occupied Crimea rests entirely with Russia as the occupying power and argued that living conditions would improve only after the peninsula is returned to Ukrainian control.

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Suspension of fuel sales to the public in Crimea

Russian occupation authorities in Crimea and Sevastopol announced a complete halt to civilian fuel sales on Sunday, June 21, restricting gasoline and diesel distribution exclusively to emergency and state-operated vehicles.

Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian-installed head of Sevastopol, announced the measure early Sunday, attributing the decision to logistical issues.

“An important message for motorists in Sevastopol. The supply of fuel to the city is delayed,” Razvozhaev stated. “In this regard, today we are forced to suspend the release of fuel via QR codes at TES gas stations. Currently, refueling is carried out exclusively for emergency service vehicles.”

He added that further updates on the situation would be provided.

Following Razvozhaev’s statement, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, announced identical measures for the rest of the occupied peninsula. According to Aksyonov, starting at 9:00 a.m. local time on June 21, all gas stations in Crimea halted the sale of fuel to both individuals and legal entities, regardless of whether payment is made by cash, card, or coupon.

Fuel will now be dispensed solely to state services responsible for maintaining the security and essential operations of the region.