Ukrainian attacks leave Russian oil infrastructure ablaze, Crimea halts fuel sales

Ukraine targeted Russian port and fuel transit terminals in the Kerch Strait overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, framing the strikes as retaliation for Russian aggression. Videos circulating on social media depicted fiery explosions at a port, with thick smoke engulfing what appeared to be oil tanks. Zelensky credited the SBU, SBS, HUR, and SSO forces for their successful long-range operations, noting that targets on both sides of the Crimean Bridge were hit, including maritime logistics for oil transportation and an oil depot in Russian-occupied Kerch.

The attacks resulted in five deaths and 28 injuries, according to reports. Russian media indicated one fatality occurred on a passenger ferry in Russia’s Krasnodar region. The Kerch Strait, a vital Russian logistics corridor separating occupied Crimea from mainland Russia, experienced temporary suspension of ferry traffic. Additionally, local power grids reported outages due to damage to electricity networks.

In response to the strikes, gas stations across the Russian-controlled Crimean peninsula halted all fuel sales to individuals and businesses starting Sunday morning. Fuel will now be exclusively supplied to government agencies responsible for the peninsula's functioning and security, as announced by the Russian-installed governor, Sergei Aksyonov. This action follows a day of heightened conflict, with Russian forces also striking the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least five people and injuring ten.

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All of these are just responses to the brutal Russian attacks against our people. I thank the warriors of the SBU, SBS, HUR, and SSO for their successful work at a distance of about 300 kilometers from the front line.