Stranded Russian vacationers forced to walk as Crimea runs completely out of gas
Queue at the gas station in occupied Crimea, June 1, 2026 (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)
Russian tourists are unable to leave occupied Crimea due to severe gasoline shortage, with vacationers complaining about the inability to purchase fuel vouchers, the independent news outlet Astra reported on June 4.
According to the stranded vacationers, gasoline is sold exclusively via vouchers, which are issued by organizations primarily for daily commutes to work rather than for long-distance travel.
One tourist shared on Instagram that freely purchasing fuel is impossible, and the available vouchers are not valid for traveling to other cities.
"Local residents are walking now because there is no gas at all," the Russian woman complained.
"But at least they have the ability to get around on foot, whereas tourists are left completely without gas. We, for example, have enough left for 50 kilometers, and the nearest gas station is in Simferopol — and it's not even guaranteed they have fuel. So we don't even have the ability to reach Simferopol. Tourists are completely unprotected."
Context of the fuel crisis in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories
In late May, the occupation authorities in Crimea similarly introduced fuel limits, capping sales at 20 liters per day per person. Subsequent online reports indicated that the peninsula had completely halted the sale of gasoline vouchers to private individuals.
On June 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian attacks have hit 15 Russian oil refineries since the beginning of 2026. As of May, nearly 40% of Russia's primary oil refining capacity has been knocked out of commission.
According to Bloomberg, strikes by the Defense Forces on refineries have forced the Russian Federation to ban the export of aviation fuel, while domestic oil refining in Russia has plummeted to a 16-year low.
On June 3, Moscow followed the "LPR" and occupied Crimea by restricting gasoline sales amid intensified Ukrainian Armed Forces strikes on Russia's oil infrastructure. The ORTK gas station network announced rationing on gasoline sales per customer.
On June 2, it was reported that Rosneft gas stations in Belgorod and Kursk oblasts stopped selling AI-92 gasoline into jerrycans. Stations in Belgorod refuse to fill cars to a full tank, while Kursk limited sales to 20 liters per vehicle.
Additionally, the occupation authorities in Luhansk Oblast restricted fuel sales at local gas stations to 20 liters per person. The fuel purchase limits were introduced under the guise of a significant increase in demand, which "amid logistics issues could trigger shortages." The restrictions apply to the sale of A-92 and A-95 gasoline, as well as diesel fuel.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
