Authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared a regional emergency on Friday as Ukraine increased its drone attacks on the peninsula. The move aims to reduce the impact of the attacks, which have disrupted fuel supplies, caused power cuts, and damaged important logistics and oil facilities across Crimea, other Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, and southern Russia.

Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-installed governor of Crimea, announced the decision on Telegram. He said, “A decision has been made… to sign decrees declaring a regional-level emergency situation in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.” He added that the emergency declaration would allow for a “rapid resolution of tasks related to ensuring the stable operation of all sectors”.

Ukraine has stepped up its aerial attacks in recent months. Kyiv says the strikes are a fair response to Russia’s near-daily attacks on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure since Moscow launched its military offensive in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of Crimea in Ukraine’s strategy. “We are doing everything to force Russia to end the war and restore justice. And it is Crimea that is at the centre of this policy of ensuring justice,” he said in a social media post.

Crimea remains one of Russia’s most important military positions in the war. The peninsula hosts several Russian military bases and serves as a major launch point for military operations. Zelensky said Ukraine is trying to remove this strategic advantage from Russia. “Today, Ukraine is depriving Russia of this launchpad and drawing a line under its attempts to normalise war,” he said.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said the drones targeted several regions, including Moscow and the annexed Crimea. This marked one of the highest numbers of drones intercepted in a single night since the conflict began.

Ukraine has mainly targeted Russian oil processing and export facilities during these attacks. Kyiv believes these facilities provide significant revenue that supports Russia’s military operations. Last week, one such Ukrainian strike triggered a major fire at a refinery located southeast of Moscow. Thick black smoke covered nearby suburbs after the attack.

A day before the emergency declaration, Aksyonov admitted that Crimea was facing serious challenges. He said, “is going through a challenging time” and added that “the fuel situation is the most difficult”. He also said officials were working to improve the situation, although he could not provide a timeline. “I cannot say exactly how long it will take, nor can I publicly disclose the specific action plan. However, we are taking action,” he said in the statement.

Aksyonov also acknowledged that Russia’s military could not fully defend the peninsula from every attack. He said, “Unfortunately … there are no air defence systems in the world that are absolutely perfect in terms of security and effectiveness.”

Residents and visitors in Crimea have also spoken about the growing fear following the attacks. A woman from Moscow, who was spending her holiday in Feodosia on Crimea’s southeastern coast, described her experience during a recent overnight strike while speaking to AFP by phone. “Everyone is afraid: locals and visitors alike,” she said. She recalled the frightening night by saying, “We were afraid we’d never wake up again; we prayed all night.” Describing the sky during the attack, she added, “The sky was like Star Wars.”

Despite the ongoing war, Crimea has continued to attract many Russian tourists. The peninsula has remained a popular holiday destination even as the conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and caused widespread destruction across parts of Ukraine.

Ukraine has openly stated that it wants to discourage tourism to Crimea. On Monday, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said its recent strikes were “closing the beach season in Crimea.” The ministry listed several successful attacks on oil depots, gas compressor stations, and air defence systems. It also said on social media that “the forecast for tourists is unfavourable”.

Russia seized Crimea in 2014 and later announced its annexation. However, most countries around the world, including several of Russia’s allies, do not recognise the move. The peninsula holds major political and strategic importance for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has described the annexation as a historic victory and has invested significant resources in developing Crimea since 2014.

Ukraine continues to reject Russia’s claim over the peninsula. Kyiv maintains that Crimea is an inseparable part of Ukrainian territory and says it will never formally give up its claim to the region.