Crimea Isolated by Ukrainian Strikes: Power Outages and Gasoline Black Market Emerge

The energy crisis in Crimea, where a state of emergency has been declared following concentrated strikes by Ukraine, is worsening by the day.
The disruption of electricity and public transportation, along with the emergence of a gasoline black market, is threatening the daily lives of residents.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on June 28 (local time) that Crimea is effectively isolated as Ukrainian drone attacks have severed supply lines from Russia to the peninsula.
Crimea, which has been under Russian effective control since its annexation in 2014, has long been used as a showcase for President Vladimir Putin's imperial ambitions.
However, due to intense Ukrainian airstrikes targeting energy facilities, the image that Russia built with massive financial investment has plummeted.
According to the WSJ, air raid sirens and power outages have become a part of daily life in Crimea.
Basic services such as kindergartens, waste collection, and ATMs have been suspended, and public transportation operations have been restricted.
Maxim Tikhomirov, a resident of the port city of Sevastopol, told the WSJ that he has been without electricity for several days.
"The situation in Sevastopol is very difficult," Tikhomirov said. "Most shops have closed down completely, and it has become impossible to withdraw cash. Public transport services are also very limited."
Victoria Spivakova, a resident of the southeastern coastal city of Yalta, had to quit her job to take care of her children after the kindergarten they attended closed.
This was because emergency childcare facilities also became unavailable due to fuel shortages.
The tourism industry has also been hit hard.
Crimea attracted about 7 million tourists last year, generating an official revenue of 60 million dollars (approximately 92.4 billion won), but bookings for this summer have dropped to half that level.
With train and ferry services suspended and most gas stations closed, tourists visiting Crimea have had to rely on online chat rooms to find information on operating gas stations or the gasoline black market.
Anna Ivanova, a tourist who visited Crimea from Moscow, had to turn to the black market, where gasoline was being traded at 500 rubles per liter (25 dollars per gallon)—six times the normal price—because gas stations were closed.
"It is not quite a state of panic, but there are definitely fewer tourists than last year," she said.
In Sevastopol, rumors are even circulating that high-ranking officials have evacuated their families to the Russian mainland.
Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor to the governor of Crimea, urged residents to "be patient and trust only official information."
Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, asked residents not to give in to psychological warfare, stating, "It is clear that there are temporary difficulties, but life goes on."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.