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Ukrainian attacks prompt Russian-held Crimea to halt civilian gasoline sales
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In this photo provided by Ukraine's 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, a soldier practices military skills at a training ground near the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Saturday, June 20, 2026. Andriy Andriyenko/Ukrainian 65 Mechanized brigade/AP hide caption toggle caption Andriy Andriyenko/Ukrainian 65 Mechanized brigade/AP Officials in Russia-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline sales Sunday as Ukraine ramped up attacks on fuel supplies on the Black Sea peninsula. Gov. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said that overnight Ukrainian strikes killed four people and wounded 28 others. He did not specify the target of the attack. He later wrote on social media that local gas stations would halt all sales to non-state companies and individuals for an undefined period. "Fuel will be sold only to government agencies that ensure the functioning and security of the Republic of Crimea," Aksyonov said. "I ask everyone to remain calm and to only trust official sources of information." Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted fuel supplies to Crimea in recent weeks, triggering the worst energy crisis in the region since it was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement Sunday that a Crimean oil depot, as well as an oil transport facility in Russia's southern Krasnodar region were among the targets. He described the attacks as part of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" against Russia's energy infrastructure. "Russia understands only strength, and our long-range strength is certainly working for peace," he wrote. Russian officials in Krasnodar reported earlier Sunday that a drone strike sparked a fire at a Black Sea oil terminal in the village of Chushka. They said that Ukrainian attacks struck a ferry, killing one person. Motorists struggle to find fuel The Crimean peninsula has had periodic fuel shortages from Ukrainian strikes before, but the current crisis is the worst since its 2014 annexation. At the end of May, authorities restricted the sale of gas to 20 liters (5 1/3 gallons) per vehicle owner per week, using prepaid coupons. Those were snapped up immediately following their release on an official messaging app channel, and motorists lined up for hours, waiting to refuel. Social networks have been abuzz with requests and advice on where to find fuel, and authorities launched a hotline for tourists in the area who have found themselves trapped. Some motorists bring their own gas from Krasnodar and elsewhere via the Kerch bridge, but they are restricted to carrying 100 liters (about 26 1/2 gallons) per vehicle. Some speculators are selling gas at double the market price. In a rare public acknowledgment, the Kremlin has recognized the scope of the problem and promised to address the issue quickly. However, Ukraine's successes have highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and change the course of the conflict while Moscow's advances recently have ground to a near halt. On June 11, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine reached its 1,569th day, surpassing the duration of World War I.
S. News & World Report Moscow hit by largest Ukrainian attack since start of Russia's full-scale war Yahoo News Canada Ukraine hits Moscow refinery in major attack on Russian capital Reuters
6 minutes agoVitaly ShevchenkoKyivX/ @ZelenskyyUaPresident Zelensky posted a video on social media showing drones and explosionsRussian authorities say Ukraine has launched an "unprecedented attack" on and around St Petersburg, as the city hosts the final day of Russia's annual economic forum.More than 140 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region, governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said, while the city's governor, Alexander Beglov, urged residents to remain indoors for the first time since the beginning of the war.Ukraine's president said his forces hit Russia's arsenals and a naval base in what he called a just response to Russian attacks.It comes just a day after Russia's president delivered a speech at the forum, in which he said there was no point in meeting Zelensky, who had called for direct talks on ending the war.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnky posted on social media on Saturday to say it was "time to end this war", but accused Putin of wanting to "keep fighting".He said his country's drones had covered a distance of 1,000km (620 miles) to the St Petersburg region, targeting "the enemy navy's arsenals and a base in Kronstadt".An oil depot in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia - 500km (310 miles) away - had also been hit, he added.This follows an open letter sent on Thursday by Zelensky calling for face-to-face negotiations with Vladimir Putin to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. He wrote that it would be "wrong to simply wait" for the conflict to once again come to the attention of the US.On Friday, Putin refused the request for a meeting, reiterating his position that peace talks should precede any ceasefire.He said he would only end the war when Russia's goals had been met.Russia's longstanding position is that Ukraine should withdraw from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as abandon efforts to join Nato.Meanwhile, in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, the Moscow-installed authorities have suspended coach services on two motorways following a campaign of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian logistics. They urged local residents not to use them "for security reasons".The Russia-backed administration also banned commuter train services and transportation of groups of children within Luhansk.Putin had said Russia was in full control of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic".In recent weeks, Ukraine's drone forces have been targeting Russian logistics in occupied parts of Ukraine. An analyst told the BBC that more than 200 lorries and over 30 fuel trucks had been hit since the beginning of May.
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