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Crimea Suspends Summer Camps as Ukraine Strikes Trigger Fuel Crisis

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Russian-held Crimea has suspended tourist activities and children’s summer camps until September as a growing fuel crisis disrupts the region. Authorities say Ukrainian attacks on sea routes, supply roads, and Russian oil infrastructure have severely affected fuel deliveries, forcing petrol stations across Crimea to halt sales to the public and businesses.

The fuel shortages are part of a wider problem across Russia, where repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries have reduced gasoline and diesel production. Several Russian regions have reported supply disruptions, while some fuel stations in Moscow have also experienced shortages of certain fuel grades.

The Kremlin said officials and oil companies are working to stabilize the domestic fuel market. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has directed agencies and producers to prepare measures to boost supplies, maintain prices, and increase output as Russia faces declining fuel production and exports amid continued attacks on its energy sector.

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Ukraine Drone Strikes Deepen Fuel Crisis in Russian-Occupied Territories

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Ukraine’s intensified drone campaign against Russian-controlled territories is disrupting key supply routes and worsening fuel shortages in occupied Crimea and other southern regions. Recent attacks on highways, bridges, fuel tankers, and logistics infrastructure have significantly reduced the movement of military and civilian supplies, causing long queues at petrol stations and strict fuel rationing across the peninsula.

Residents and tourists in Crimea have reported waiting hours to buy fuel, while local authorities have acknowledged difficulties in meeting demand. The shortages have been compounded by Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries and fuel depots, which Kyiv says have damaged a substantial portion of Russia’s refining capacity. Russian officials have admitted that repeated attacks on energy and transport infrastructure are creating supply challenges.

Military analysts say the campaign is targeting both Russia’s logistics network and its ability to sustain operations in occupied Ukraine. With sea routes restricted and major roads increasingly vulnerable to drone attacks, supply chains have come under growing pressure. Ukrainian officials argue the strikes are aimed at weakening Russia’s war effort, while Moscow says the attacks are also affecting civilians living in occupied territories.

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Cuba Turns to Longtime Ally Russia Amidst Devastating Fuel Crisis

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Cuba’s current fuel crisis has prompted the country to seek assistance from its historical ally, Russia. Cuban taxi driver Jorge Lloro, who drives a Soviet-era Lada, is reminded of the strong ties between the two nations. During the Cold War, around 100,000 Lada cars were imported to Cuba as a way to circumvent the long-standing US economic embargo. Now, facing a severe fuel shortage and a grim economic outlook, Cuba’s leadership has once again turned to Russia for support.

For drivers like Jorge, maintaining their vehicles has become a constant struggle due to the scarcity and high cost of spare parts. Even obtaining petrol has become a lengthy ordeal, with long queues at petrol pumps. To manage the situation, the state has organized drivers into WhatsApp groups, assigning them numbers and notifying them when it’s their turn to fill up. However, the system has been inefficient and lacking in proper organization and infrastructure, leading to frustration among drivers.

The fuel crisis is just one of the many challenges Cuba has faced recently, including food insecurity, inflation, and electricity blackouts. These longstanding issues stem from government mismanagement and the US economic embargo, aggravated further by the collapse of the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seizing this opportunity, some Russian companies have signed agreements with Cuba to revitalize tourism infrastructure, improve agriculture, and invest in industries such as rum and steel production.

Of particular interest to Jorge and other drivers is an agreement for Russia to supply approximately 30,000 barrels of crude oil per day. This would help compensate for the reduction in oil exports from Venezuela, Cuba’s oil-rich socialist ally, which decreased from 80,000 barrels per day in 2020 to around 55,000. The Cuban state media portrays this cooperation as evidence of the enduring ties between the two nations. However, independent economist Omar Everleny believes that closer relations with Moscow offer only a short-term solution for Cuba.

While Russia’s assistance may stabilize the current crisis, Mr. Everleny points out that Russian firms will expect timely and full payment for their investments, which could potentially burden Cuban families. He warns against relying on a single benefactor, citing historical examples of dependence on Spain, the US, the Soviet Union, and Venezuela. Instead, Everleny suggests that Cuba should develop its own production strategy, with a key role for small and medium-sized Cuban businesses.

As the day outside the petrol station comes to an end, Jorge Lloro manages to fill up his Lada. However, like the Cuban Revolution itself, the country’s situation remains precarious, relying on Russian assistance while desperately needing significant reforms in the years to come.

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