Fuel Vouchers Replace Cash Sales in Occupied Crimea, Strict Limits on Food Sales Imposed

(SEVASTOPOL, CRIMEA) – Strict restrictions on the sale of food and fuel have been introduced in occupied Sevastopol, as supply problems across Crimea, triggered by Ukrainian strikes on logistics and oil infrastructure, begin to affect retail trade.

According to a report by The Moscow Times, cited by UNN, the Poltava oil depot in Krasnodar Krai was also targeted, further straining an already brittle supply network. In Sevastopol, supermarkets have now imposed limits on basic goods. In the “Dobrobud” supermarket, customers are allowed to purchase no more than three bottles of vegetable oil and three packs of pasta per person.

The food curbs follow an escalating fuel crisis on the occupied peninsula. On 22 May, Sevastopol restricted petrol sales to 29 litres per person and introduced diesel fuel coupons. A “temporary” absence of AI-92 and AI-95 petrol was reported shortly after. These measures arrived as Ukraine intensified strikes on Russian oil refineries and trucks delivering cargo to Crimea via the so called land corridor, the “Novorossiya” highway.

The Moscow appointed head of the annexed peninsula, Sergey Aksyonov, later announced a complete suspension of free petrol sales for several days. Starting today, the sale of petrol for cash will be completely restricted for several days. Vouchers are not available for public sale and will not be in the near future. Fuel will be dispensed at 20 litres per person based on previously purchased vouchers, Aksyonov wrote. Employees of municipal and republican authorities will be on duty at every petrol station to track the licence plate numbers of drivers refuelling with vouchers.

The city’s “governor,” Mikhail Razvozhayev, previously confirmed the halt of free petrol sales at the largest local networks, “TES” and “ATAN.” Fuel is now released only via previously purchased coupons, with a limit of no more than 20 litres per person. To monitor distribution, attendants have been stationed at petrol stations to record the licence plate numbers of all vehicles.