Russian occupation of Ukraine and Crimea strains civilians with forced resettlement and fuel shortages

Expert Petro Andrjuschtschenko says 5‑6 million Ukrainians now live under Russian control. Russia seeks to remodel society in occupied areas—changing property ownership, language, administration—and is pursuing large‑scale resettlement, displacing many residents while moving Russian citizens into the territories.

In Crimea, fuel rationing imposed by Russian authorities has eased; dozens of stations now dispense limited gasoline and diesel, with caps of 20‑40 liters per vehicle and many sales still requiring special permits. Power outages persist, and a sanctioned Russian tanker near Oman has leaked oil, highlighting broader logistical challenges for the Kremlin’s shadow fleet.