Ukraine ramps up fuel attacks on Crimea amid EU's costly exit from Russian gas

Ukraine has intensified drone strikes and artillery attacks on fuel depots, storage terminals and road‑transport links across the Crimean peninsula. The bombardments have shattered the region's fuel infrastructure, forcing gas stations to close, limiting sales to a few outlets and prompting residents to resort to horses and walking for transport. Russian authorities have introduced strict rationing measures, including QR‑code vouchers that limit gasoline purchases to twenty litres per week, and have halted cash sales of fuel vouchers.

At the same time, European Union members are confronting a costly disengagement from Russian natural gas. Companies in Germany, France and Spain that rely on long‑term Russian LNG contracts face the loss of billions of euros as the EU bans new purchases of Russian LNG from January next year. Major energy firms such as SEFE, TotalEnergies and Naturgy must renegotiate supplies or absorb the financial hit, marking a significant shift in Europe’s energy strategy after four years of gradual reduction.

Both developments reflect broader efforts to curtail Russia’s energy revenues and limit its capacity to support its military operations.