Crimea placed under ‘state of emergency’ following Ukrainian attacks
Moscow (AFP)
The annexed Crimea has been placed under a regional
‘state of emergency’, local Russian officials announced on Friday, a measure aimed at dealing with the consequences of recent Ukrainian strikes that have caused severe fuel and electricity shortages.
For several weeks, the Ukrainian army has been imposing an energy blockade on Crimea – which was seized by Russian forces in 2014 – by striking infrastructure and tanker lorries supplying the peninsula.
These bombardments have forced the authorities
to suspend the sale of fuel to private individuals in Crimea, to impose power cuts, and also to cancel all summer camps scheduled to take place there this summer.
The introduction of the ‘state of emergency’ regime is intended to free up more resources and, in theory, also provides for the
possibility of imposing restrictions on the local population.
“The legal framework of the state of emergency allows issues relating to the continued functioning of all essential sectors to be resolved as quickly as possible,” said the Moscow-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov, on Telegram on Friday.
In another statement, published on Thursday, he also acknowledged that Crimea was going through
“a difficult period” and that “the fuel situation is the most critical”, remarks that contrast with the authorities’ usual assurances.
“I cannot say exactly how long this will take, nor can I publicly disclose the specific action plan. However, we are taking action,” he assured. “Unfortunately (...) there is no air defence system in the world that is absolutely perfect,” he added.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) claimed on Friday that it had struck two Russian naval vessels providing logistical support to the army, as well as air defence systems in Kerch.
“The destruction of the air defence systems paves the way for further precision strikes, whilst the neutralisation of port infrastructure undermines the occupiers’ ability to resupply their troops,” the SBU stated.
“Unusual”
Since the launch of the large-scale offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, the Crimean peninsula, situated in the south of Ukrainian territory and bordered by the Black Sea, has been one of the areas of fighting between the two sides.
The peninsula, which is home to numerous Russian military bases, is regularly targeted by Ukrainian attacks, notably naval strikes that have forced Moscow to withdraw part of its fleet stationed in Crimea.
But this is the first time since 2022 that the peninsula has faced such energy shortages.
“There’s never been anything like this before; it’s not a normal season,” says Alexandre, a 72-year-old Muscovite currently living in Feodosia, in south-eastern Crimea, speaking to AFP remotely.
The man, who does not wish to give his surname, says that explosions and gunfire have been heard at night over the past few days.
Annexed by Russia in 2014, the peninsula is an important political symbol for President Vladimir Putin.
It was notably from Crimea that Russian troops launched their offensive in February 2022 at the start of the large-scale attack on Ukraine.
In recent months, thanks to technological advances in its drone production, Kyiv has stepped up its campaign of strikes against Russia and the Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine.
Russian air defences shot down 660 Ukrainian drones during the night from Thursday to Friday, the Defence Ministry in Moscow announced – one of the highest figures since the start of the conflict.
These drones were destroyed over more than a dozen regions, including the Moscow region, as well as in the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, the ministry said.
Kyiv is targeting energy infrastructure in particular, in order to cut off the flow of hydrocarbon revenues that enable the Kremlin to finance its war effort.
Last week, a Ukrainian attack caused a massive fire at a refinery in south-east Moscow.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia carried out a further exchange of prisoners of war on Friday, involving 160 people from each side, the Russian Defence Ministry announced. Prisoner exchanges are one of the last areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow.