‘Waiting in line is pointless’: Fuel trucks fail to reach Sevastopol, Russian-installed governor says
Officials in occupied Sevastopol failed to issue a new batch of QR codes for fuel purchases on the evening of June 10, Russian-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said. He blamed the disruption on fuel supply problems: “Fuel trucks were unable to reach the city last night.”
Razvozhaev urged residents not to stand in line at TES gas stations the following day. “I’m asking everyone: waiting in line at TES gas stations tomorrow is pointless. As for the validity of the QR codes, all previously issued codes will be deactivated today. Tomorrow [the 11th] they will be generated again, and if you didn’t manage to use your code, you’ll be able to get a new one,” he said.
He added that on June 11, TES gas stations would be reserved for municipal services, ambulances, security forces, and public transportation.
At ATAN gas stations, Razvozhaev promised fuel would be available for open sale — clarifying on Thursday morning that this applied to eight stations selling AI-92 and AI-95 Ultra gasoline and Ultra diesel fuel.
The Telegram channel Astra reports that at ATAN stations, despite claims of “open” fuel sales, AI-95 can only be purchased with vouchers.
Since June 6, fuel at TES gas stations in Sevastopol has been sold using QR codes. Each code allows the holder to buy up to 20 liters of gasoline and can only be obtained through a bot in the Max messaging app. Users can generate a code just once a week, a measure officials say is meant to ensure “equal access to fuel for the largest possible number of people.”
According to estimates by the outlet 7×7, at least 25 Russian regions — not including the territories in Ukraine occupied by Moscow — were experiencing fuel shortages as of June 10.
The fuel crisis began in May amid Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities and other infrastructure. In Crimea, shortages have been exacerbated by attacks on fuel trucks and other vehicles supplying the occupied peninsula by road.
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