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Authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared an "emergency situation" on Friday in a bid to ease the fallout from increasing aerial attacks by Ukraine on the peninsula.
The region is already grappling with fuel shortages and power cuts triggered by Ukrainian attacks on infrastructure across southern Russia that supplies the peninsula.
"A decision has been made ... to sign decrees declaring a regional-level emergency situation in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," Moscow-installed governor Sergey Aksyonov said in a post on Telegram.
Aksyonov said the emergency declaration would allow for a "rapid resolution of tasks related to ensuring the stable operation of all sectors."
In a statement published Thursday, Aksyonov acknowledged that Crimea was facing a "challenging time" and said the "fuel situation" was the most difficult issue.
"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.
He also conceded that the Russian military was unable to fully protect the peninsula.
"Unfortunately ... there are no air defense systems in the world that are absolutely perfect in terms of security and effectiveness," he said.
Kyiv says its air attacks are a legitimate response to Russia's near-daily barrages targeting Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure.
Russia seized and annexed Crimea in 2014, though the vast majority of countries, including many of Moscow's allies, do not recognize the move.
Ukraine says Crimea is an inalienable part of its territory and that it will never formally cede it.
Kyiv has targeted Russian energy infrastructure throughout the war launched by Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, in retaliatory strikes aimed at cutting off vital revenues for the Kremlin.
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