The administration of the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, declared a state of emergency following heavy damage to infrastructure from Ukrainian attacks. The decision was announced on Friday by Crimea's Governor Sergey Aksyonov.
In a statement on Telegram, Aksyonov said that "decrees declaring a state of emergency in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol have been signed." He added that the legal framework of the state of emergency allows for the swift continued functioning of all critical sectors.
Fuel sales halted, electricity restrictions begin
The Crimean administration suspended fuel sales to individuals due to Ukrainian attacks on supply routes and oil facilities. Power outages also spread across the peninsula. At the same time, tourism activities and summer camps for children have been postponed until September due to fuel shortages and security concerns.
In another statement on Thursday, Governor Aksyonov announced that electricity consumption restrictions had been imposed across the peninsula to cover the deficit caused by Ukrainian shelling. Without providing a timeline for how long the measures would last, Aksyonov also refrained from "disclosing a specific action plan."
"Russian army cannot fully protect Crimea"
Speaking after Ukraine targeted Russian oil processing and export facilities in Crimea, Aksyonov admitted that the Russian army could not fully protect the peninsula. "There is no completely perfect, secure and effective air defense system in the world," he said, pointing to the defense vulnerability.
Russia: 660 drones shot down in one night
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that 660 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) had been shot down overnight, including over the capital Moscow and Crimea. This was recorded as one of the highest daily numbers since the start of the war between the two countries.
Ukraine: "We are ending the summer season in Crimea"
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry, in a statement last week, claimed that its army's attacks had "destroyed the summer vacation season in Crimea." The ministry emphasized that the attacks targeting the peninsula, a popular holiday destination for Russians, aim to undermine revenues that fuel Moscow's war efforts. In recent weeks, an attack on an oil refinery southeast of Moscow caused a massive fire and thick black smoke clouds over the outskirts of the capital.
Status of Crimea
Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, incorporating it into its territory. However, many countries, including Turkey, and international organizations did not recognize this move. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the annexation as a "historic victory," while Ukraine continues to regard the peninsula as an inseparable part of its territory and insists it will never officially relinquish it.
