Russia to dismiss Crimea governor Aksyonov after September elections

The Kremlin is preparing to remove Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian‑installed head of occupied Crimea, once the September regional elections are completed. Ukrainian partisan group Atesh, citing insiders in the occupation administration, says Moscow intends to hold Aksyonov responsible for worsening humanitarian conditions and infrastructure failures on the peninsula, including power, water and fuel shortages. The move is described as an effort to calm growing local discontent and protect the Kremlin’s image.

Potential successors include Alexei Dmitriev, the Russian‑appointed interior minister for Crimea, whose appointment would tighten security‑service control, and possibly a military commander from President Vladimir Putin’s “Time of Heroes” program, such as Alexander Shuvayev. The plan is to delay any dismissal until after the elections to avoid political instability during the vote. Crimea’s roughly 2.3 million residents continue to face severe supply shortages, exacerbated by recent Ukrainian drone attacks on fuel depots.