AFP, Moscow

Ukrainian strikes on Crimea triggered power outages in its largest city, Sevastopol, both sides reported yesterday, as Kyiv intensifies its attempts to cut off the peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Crimea has been forced to suspend fuel sales to the public as Ukraine’s army targets Russian logistics to the region and has hit a series of oil refineries and depots across southern Russia that provide supplies.

Sevastopol’s Moscow-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev urged residents to help vulnerable neighbours and reserve phones for emergency communication to save battery and avoid overloading the grid.

“The enemy is once again striking treacherously, attempting to deprive us of normal living conditions and sow panic,” he posted.

He said some areas of the city -- where temperatures are approaching 30C -- would be without power until at least yesterday evening.

Ukraine’s SBU security service said it had hit two military airfields and air defence systems in Crimea.