A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
An unexpected problem is servicing in Russia, one of the world's largest oil-producing countries. It seems drivers can't fill up their tanks, and they're letting the world know on social media.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Through interpreter) There's no gas anywhere.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Through interpreter) They're only selling with vouchers.
MARTÍNEZ: Growing parts of the country now face gas shortages, a result of months of Ukrainian drone strikes on energy infrastructure. Joining us to talk about this and the intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russia is NPR's Charles Maynes on the line from Moscow. Charles, so let's start with the gas shortage. How bad is it?
CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: Well, A, it's pretty bad. You know, local governors have been implemented some form of gas rationing in at least a quarter of the country because of drone attacks on refineries, transportation hubs, storage tanks, you name it. You know, that's impacted some of Russia's main oil-producing regions to the point that the Kremlin yesterday asked neighboring Kazakhstan if it would sell gas to Russia. Now, across the country, drivers have been complaining about empty gas stations or long waits to get to the pump, but most acutely, this is being felt in annexed Crimea. This is the Peninsula, of course, that Russia sees from Ukraine in 2014, and really what was a precursor to the wider invasion that came in 2022.
MARTÍNEZ: OK, Crimea. What's happening there in Crimea?
MAYNES: Well, you know, what started out as - off as rationing in Crimea has become a full stop on gas sales. And that's due not only to strikes on energy sites, but also attacks on trucks, railway lines, bridges, ferries, anything that could ship oil or military supplies in occupied Crimea is, after all, a staging ground for the Russian forces launching attacks into the rest of Ukraine. Now, all of this has clearly unnerved the public. Crimea is the crown jewel of Russia's recent land grabs in Ukraine, and at least in the Kremlin's eyes, it's settled business. Yet Russia can't protect it even during this peak tourism season. So due to constant drone strikes, several people have died. The hotels and beaches are empty. Today, the electricity went out. Kids' camps are all canceled. So the war is really keenly being felt, with which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says is the point. Here's Zelenskyy speaking last night.
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PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (Speaking Ukrainian).
MAYNES: So here Zelenskyy says these attacks, including non-Crimea, are carefully calculated and suggest that with more support promised by the West, they might even expand so that, in Zelenskyy's words, Russia is forced to choose peace.
MARTÍNEZ: The thing is, though, Charles, these Ukrainian attacks are not exactly new. So what's changed?
MAYNES: Yeah. I mean, you know, in some cases like Crimea, it's the intensity, but it's also the range. Ukraine is striking Moscow. It's striking deep into the Ural Mountains in Siberia, as well. So Ukraine has clearly made huge strides in its domestic drone program, and it's now deploying them in an attempt to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
MARTÍNEZ: How likely is that, though? I mean, have we heard from Putin on any of this at all?
MAYNES: Yeah. You know, Putin was conspicuously silent after dozens of drones struck Moscow last week, including an oil refinery here. He finally addressed the attacks during, it should be said, a choreographed exchange with graduates from a Russian military academy at the Kremlin on Tuesday. Let's listen.
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PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: So here, Putin says these strikes were an attempt to undermine Russian society and make people question the war. The catch is that many Russians already do. Five years on, and hundreds of thousands of dead or injured later, you know, independent polls here show a majority of Russians now want the conflict to end. But Putin has his answer, too. You know, he maintains that he wants peace. He just insists even now, still, it be on Russia's terms.
MARTÍNEZ: NPR's Charles Maynes. Thank you very much.
MAYNES: Thanks, A.
(SOUNDBITE OF HERMANOS GUTIERREZ'S "LOW SUN") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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