Crimea Caught Between Tourism and Explosions as Residents Face Power and Fuel Shortages After Russian Annexation

An explosion was heard in Sevastopol, a city on the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia. Residents who continue to visit the beach say they have now grown accustomed to living with the sound of explosions.

Their initial suspicion was that it was a Russian air defense exercise, although the possibility of a Ukrainian drone attack has not been ruled out. Recently, Ukraine has significantly intensified strikes against energy infrastructure and fuel facilities on the Black Sea peninsula.

Although air raid alerts are frequent and the war continues, locals and tourists are trying to maintain a sense of normality. The attacks have also caused civilian casualties.

Sergei Aksyonov, the governor of Crimea, confirmed that two people were killed overnight in the middle of this week. For the peninsula’s 2.4 million residents, severe fuel shortages and power outages have now become a daily reality.

Crimenergo, the regional electricity distribution company, posts daily notices about restrictions on its official website. Meanwhile, the authorities have declared a local state of emergency and banned the unrestricted sale of gasoline.

The price of one liter of 95-octane unleaded gasoline has now reached nearly 250 rubles, or about $3. This represents a three- to fourfold increase compared with the previous period.

To remain operational, hotels, coastal resorts and small businesses have been forced to use generators. Russia occupied and annexed Crimea in 2014, a move that was followed by the first severe sanctions imposed by the West.

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the region carries particular political and symbolic significance. He had promised residents that they would enjoy a higher standard of living under Moscow’s administration, but almost no country in the world recognizes Crimea as part of Russian territory.