Mass Layoffs Have Begun In Crimea
- 29.06.2026, 7:00
Because of a fuel shortage.
The Fuel Crisis in Crimea has begun to affect the local labor market: residents of the peninsula are reporting layoffs and being sent on unpaid leave. Such comments appeared under posts by the Russian-appointed “head” of the peninsula Sergey Aksyonov, as noted by “Agency”.
According to Crimeans, employers are delaying payroll and suggesting that employees submit letters of resignation of their own accord. For their part, local business owners report forced downtime and a lack of funds to meet their obligations to employees and the tax authorities.
“Drivers at the SK ‘GRAD’ company have not received their wages for May and June. What are people supposed to do now—forced to take unpaid leave and not receiving their rightful pay for two months?” wrote a Simferopol resident. Her fellow Simferopol resident asked Aksyonov, “What about taxes: my husband used to work in transportation, but now the truck is idle and there’s no income.” A resident of Kerch said that she and other employees were asked to submit resignation letters. “How are people supposed to survive in today’s reality? Businesses are closing down,” she asked.
Similar posts were left by residents of these and other cities, including Yalta and Yevpatoria. They write about layoffs, a sharp drop in income, business closures, and the inability to pay mortgages and loans, and they are asking the authorities to introduce tax breaks for businesses.
Self-employed individuals engaged in auto repair and maintenance reported that they have almost no customers left due to the fuel shortage. “Business has practically come to a standstill… We’d hate to have to close down or declare bankruptcy because we don’t have the funds to pay taxes and salaries,” reads one of the appeals. “The Agency,” using data from leaks, confirmed that the authors of these comments are actual residents of Crimea.
It’s not just social media users who are reporting employment problems. This week, employees of the Crimean gas station chain “TES” recorded a video appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that about 2,500 people are at risk of being laid off.