Russian-installed authorities declare economic emergency in Crimea

MOSCOW — Russian-installed authorities in Crimea announced ‌a state of emergency on the peninsula on Friday to deal with economic issues, after suspending tourism ​and children’s summer camps and halting ​all fuel sales in response to Ukrainian ⁠attacks. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russia-appointed head of Crimea, ​said on Telegram that the emergency situation would ​facilitate decision-making to ensure the stable operations of all sectors on which the livelihood of the population ​depends. The authorities did not say what it ​would mean in practice. In recent months, Ukraine has been ‌pounding ⁠energy and other targets in Russia to undermine Moscow’s military capabilities and its finances while also trying to cut it off from ​Crimea, which ​Russia annexed ⁠from Ukraine in 2014. The drone attacks are worsening fuel shortages, with people ​reporting rising prices and long queues ​at ⁠the filling stations. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, whose administration has questioned U.S. mediation efforts, has said the ⁠attacks ​on civilian infrastructure are ​meant to sow discord among the Russian population.