Moscow, June 26 (SANA)Russian authorities declared a regional state of emergency in Crimea on Friday, saying Ukrainian strikes had caused major fuel shortages and widespread power outages across the peninsula.Crimea Governor Sergei Aksyonov said the emergency declaration would accelerate efforts to address disruptions affecting critical sectors, provide additional resources and, if necessary, allow authorities to impose restrictions on residents.

The announcement followed the introduction of electricity rationing across Crimea on Thursday after Ukrainian attacks damaged energy infrastructure. Local authorities had already suspended fuel sales to individuals on Sunday because of worsening shortages.

The move comes as theRussia-Ukraine warenters a new phase of escalation, with Ukraine intensifying long-range drone attacks on Russian energy and infrastructure targets while Moscow reports further battlefield advances in the Donetsk region.

Earlier this week,Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskysaid Ukrainian forces had struck an oil refinery in Moscow using long-range weapons in response to continued Russian attacks. Russian authorities confirmed that a Gazprom Neft refinery facility in Moscow sustained damage in a drone strike but reported no casualties.F.J./ABD