All last week, from June 21 to 26, in the federal city of Sevastopol, motorists could not buy gasoline. Fuel was distributed only to emergency and city services, due to disruption of fuel logistics due to attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. But already on June 27, local car owners and guests of Sevastopol again flocked to gas stations. “Evening Moscow” found out how things are going with fuel in Sevastopol.
The area of the Federal City of Sevastopol is almost half the size of Moscow – about 1,080 square kilometers. It can take more than an hour to get from one end of the city to the other. It is difficult without transportation.
The roads have been quiet all last week, with few people going anywhere in their personal cars. The regular buses were overcrowded, but people didn’t complain – they were overcrowded, but they didn’t feel offended. On the contrary, there were much more smiles than grumbles, and people alternately supported each other – literally and morally. But it was easier for representatives of the special services to work – there are no traffic jams.
– Please handle the situation with understanding. In cooperation with the Federal Headquarters, we continue to increase fuel supplies to Sevastopol. “At the moment, the available reserves are used primarily to ensure the operation of ambulances, hospitals, public transport, life support institutions and other vital facilities,” Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozaev explained about the forced decision to suspend the sale of fuel. – Once we have formed the necessary reserve, enough to maintain the city’s life support for a week, we will again start selling fuel using QR codes.
A similar system was introduced at the beginning of June 2026. The code for purchasing 20 liters of fuel can be obtained through a special bot in the Max messenger. The next stage can be created no earlier than 7 days later. The code must be redeemed at the gas station with the inspectors, and only then pay for the purchase at the checkout and refuel your car. Fuel is not poured into cans, only into the gas tank. The number of tokens corresponds to the volume of fuel available for free sale.
After a forced hiatus, starting on Saturday, June 27, sales were reopened using QR codes. Before going to the gas station, you need to make sure that it has the correct brand of fuel. For example, at one of the city gas stations, by one o’clock in the afternoon, almost all available gasoline was sold; Only a dozen cars were lined up for the rest.
– Generally, I have enough fuel. Although there is no desired brand now. “It’s okay, I’ll go to the next gas station,” there is not a hint of annoyance in the voice of the car driver Vladislav Lozbinev. – While gasoline was not on sale, we were not concerned. We rested, walked, and exercised.
Dozens of cars lined up in front of a gas station, where there was a lot of fuel. The progress of the queue was regulated by employees of the State Traffic Inspectorate. They turned around drivers who wanted to move on. They worked quietly and kindly. Those who were rejected, despite some inconvenience, were placed at the end of the line – it was all fair. At the gas station, inspectors received drivers who used their smartphones to scan QR codes and check car license plates. Then we were able to communicate with the head of the gas station, Sergei Kitov.
“The QR code system allows us not to exceed the daily limits that we can spend on refueling civilian vehicles,” says Sergey Kitov. – When the limit is reached, we do not complete the work. We continue to fuel private service vehicles throughout the day. In general, everything is slowly returning to normal. All types of fuel are provided to us.
Although conditions are difficult to predict, the system works. Although getting a gas station QR code is not easy. The time of issuance of codes is announced in advance on the official channel of Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozaev. But there are so many people who want to refuel that the system can take a long time to load, and then they report: “There is no fuel.” Then you have to “catch” the code the next day.
Difficulties may also affect older people who do not use smartphones. But they try to resolve such moments on an individual basis. Sometimes at a certain gas station, free fuel sales are launched, which are also announced in advance in the wallet channel. Queues at these gas stations form long before trading begins. Sometimes you have to stand for hours.
– Well done on creating QR codes in such a situation! Of course, standing in line is not very convenient. “But I don’t live alone in the city,” says Oleg Akimov. -This is only the second time I have refueled using this system. The fuel then sprays into the gas tank. We will survive!
The residents of the hero city understand the situation. They try not to lose optimism.
“I limit my movements with the car by 50 percent,” says Alexander Golovko. – But in principle everything is acceptable. I think everything will be fine. This opinion is shared by many.
“We are already used to this situation,” Angelika Bubnova adds. – Yesterday they gave the green light to the QR code. Today I refueled quickly. I literally spent 15 minutes on this.
By the way, everyone we talked to about the situation in the city remained in good spirits.
-We are very happy that we have the opportunity to refuel our car. In general, fuel shortages are survivable. Public transportation continues to operate. Although, of course, it is difficult to move with an infant. “It’s hard to survive after a power outage,” says Oksana Berlikcheva, recalling how on Wednesday, June 24, most of the city of Sevastopol was left without electricity and communications for almost a day.
Fuel was then required primarily to run electric generators. The ability to fill a diesel fuel can using a QR code only appeared on Sunday, June 28. Yes, the fuel situation in Sevastopol is difficult, but the city leadership and federal authorities are doing everything they can to resolve it. People not only support each other, but also support their smaller brothers. Imagine that after the attack on the energy infrastructure, the Sevastopol Marine Aquarium was left without electricity, and the townspeople shared fuel so that employees could refuel the generators and maintain the viability of the facility, which houses 4,500 marine animals.
Sevastopol is a united, resilient city capable of withstanding anything.
By the way
As a result of the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the night of June 24, 70 drones were shot down over Sevastopol. But the city’s energy infrastructure was damaged. Some trolleybuses did not run on the roads. The kindergarten worked in a special way. City power workers, who were only cut off during the air raids, of which there were four in the morning, worked to restore power supplies. By 10 a.m. on June 24, part of the areas from Inkerman to Orlinoye received electricity, and in some houses in the Gagarinsky and Leninsky districts light was provided only at night or the next day.