Dark Times in Crimea: Tourists Face Power Cuts and Fuel Crisis

The first results of the 2026 resort season on the peninsula are discouraging — most vacationers chose other destinations. But some still hold bookings for late summer, actively studying reviews from those who have already returned home. A correspondent for MSK1.RU examined what tourists who were not afraid to travel to Crimea are writing.

Dark Times

“Good night, everyone. It so happened that just 10 days ago I said nothing would stop me from traveling to Crimea, but something did. Tomorrow we were supposed to leave, but we decided to cancel. My city is still safe (knock on wood), and I don«t dare take my children to a more dangerous place, especially since my youngest daughter isn»t even a year old. It«s a pity it turned out this way, but I hope we can come next year. To everyone who still decided to come, have a good vacation. To Crimeans, strength and patience. And to all of us, a peaceful sky above our heads,” writes Irina from Moscow in the Telegram channel “Crimea — Tourist Main Chat.”

“We also went to Kabardinka this year instead of Crimea. I thought it wouldn«t be great, but it turned out fine. We rented an apartment with a pool, about 5 kilometers from the central beach, few people, surprisingly, the sea is clean and transparent,” her namesake from Nizhny Novgorod supports her in the chat.

And such “refuseniks” make up the majority this resort season. People don«t want to risk their safety and lower their comfort level because of everyday problems that, unfortunately, still exist in the resort towns and villages of the peninsula. While at the beginning of June only fuel shortages caused concern, by mid-July problems with limited electricity and water supply joined in.

Until recently, the Southern Coast of Crimea — from Alushta to Alupka — was considered the safest and most comfortable place, but already in July serious problems with electricity and water arose here. Greater Alushta and Greater Yalta receive electricity on a schedule, and no one can predict when the situation will return to normal. Everything changes within hours: just as repair crews, working to exhaustion this summer, restore power, new attacks cause new outages. And the answer to the most popular questions in tourist chats and forums — “How are the electricity and water? Is it quiet at night?” — may not reflect the real situation for long.

“A tourist must understand that ‘everything is fine, we have everything and it«s quiet’ can change in a moment. Just as the opposite can. Information given now is already information from the past: that»s how it was a day or an hour ago. How it will be when you reach your vacation spot, only the heavenly office can answer for sure, but you can«t call them. If everything were so bad that you absolutely couldn»t go, Crimea would be officially closed to tourists. But Crimea is open. That means the decision to go or not to go to Crimea must be made solely based on your personal anxiety level and readiness to move your comfort zone,” Irina, one of the administrators of the Telegram channel “Crimea — Tourist Main Chat,” never tires of repeating.

If field kitchens on the streets of, for example, the resort town of Massandra, where residents of non-gasified homes can get a portion of buckwheat with stewed meat or fill a thermos with boiling water, scare you, it«s better to choose another vacation spot. According to statistics, many did just that.

“We currently divide the resort season in Crimea into three periods. The first period — from the beginning of the year to about June 1, when bookings for vacations on the peninsula were growing. Growth was 12–15 percent compared to last year, and that was one of the best indicators in the country. Then came the fuel crisis, followed by the electricity crisis. People began canceling trips, and accordingly, June bookings fell by half, losses were great. The peak was around late June–early July. Now we are observing the third period: everyone who wanted to canceled, but those who still planned to go, are going. There is a slight recovery growth after June. Naturally, the tourist flow will still not reach the numbers from before the season started, but everything now depends on tourist activity — every day people come to Crimea and every day someone books hotels,” explains Sergey Romashkin, head of the tour operator “Delfin” and vice president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

“Torment, Not a Vacation”

“Lovers of comfort (air conditioning, hot water, toilet) should not choose the southern coast for vacation right now. At our hotel, the generator was turned on only for the common kitchen, 3 times a day for two hours. In the room, naturally, there was no light and air conditioners didn«t work, toilet with a flashlight, shower barely a trickle and slightly cool water. The fridge worked for 2 hours in the common kitchen, but that wasn»t enough. As a result, my son got food poisoning and spent almost the entire vacation on antibiotics and the toilet (I apologize), we put bottles of water for flushing, running back and forth with power banks and phones to charge in the common kitchen, kettles in line, noisy generator, the pool didn«t work fully with a filter, naturally. We ran around like that for two days, then couldn»t take it and left. Ice cream is a luxury and you can«t find it (generators can»t power freezers in stores). I«m writing as it is from my experience of vacationing on the Southern Coast of Crimea. I really hope everything improves, and we»ll rush back to hotels with comfort, air conditioning and all the amenities. Otherwise it«s torment, not a vacation,” summarizes Alena from Moscow about her Crimean vacation.

And she is not alone. This resort season, vacationers compete in stories about the difficult living conditions they found themselves in. For some tourists, “dark times” came suddenly after attacks on power substations. But there were also those who went to vacation in villages that were already without power and experiencing water supply difficulties.

“If people end up in a hotel without electricity, well, it«s clear that it»s a mistake, they need to leave and find another place. Now you must refresh information before your trip — call hotels and ask: what about electricity, water, is the pool working, are other services available. If a person booked a vacation in March and hasn«t inquired about what»s happening in Crimea since, they risk finding themselves in a situation of serious discomfort,” says ATOR vice president Sergey Romashkin.

“There was no electricity, the rental owners had no water, many cafes and establishments were already closed due to tourists refusing to come, some of the remaining ones closed without electricity. The sea remained! But people still wanted a vacation with a working toilet flush and at least some joy on the shore. They wrote that Kanaka was the ‘Village of Joy,’ now it«s the ‘Village of Trouble’,” says Maria Boeva about her vacation in the resort village of Kanaka between Alushta and Sudak.

“We«ve been vacationing in ‘Dyulber’ for three days. Everything is very sad. When we checked in, everything was wonderful: sea, sun, a gorgeous view from the balcony. And at night the fun began. The electricity was cut off. Internet doesn»t work. At least there«s water. Cold. The dining room stopped working. They bus people to the ‘Ai-Petri’ sanatorium. If you don»t come on time, you«re left without food. The food is so-so: you won»t starve, but having paid a considerable sum for the package, thoughts arise that you were greatly deceived. The view from the balcony no longer pleases,” says Aleх, a participant in the Telegram chat “Crimea — Tourist Main Chat.”

Interestingly, it was everyday inconveniences and, to a lesser extent, fuel shortages that became the main reasons that ruined vacations for many tourists. Few tourists mention security problems, although air attacks on the peninsula occur every night, with casualties and injured.

“Let me tell you straight: the safety issue of tourists going to Crimea didn«t worry them in May, June, or July. And in August it won»t worry them either. Those who go accept possible risks. In June, tourists were worried about gasoline, but now the bottom of the fuel crisis on the peninsula has been passed, as in Krasnodar Krai, where they filled up before entering the peninsula. Gasoline has appeared for free sale in Crimea, and the number of vacationers has decreased, so now you can refuel without big problems.

Motor fuel has indeed appeared for free sale at some gas stations in Crimea. But prices still remain sky-high: AI-92 — 180–200 rubles per liter ($2.2–2.5), AI-95 — 240–260 rubles per liter ($3.0–3.2), diesel — up to 199 rubles per liter ($2.5). But from August 4, the republic«s leadership introduces fixed prices for AI-92 — up to 100 rubles per liter ($1.2) at Crimean gas stations. By mid-August, they promise AI-95 and diesel will be sold at this price. Then tourists began to worry about electricity and water. And given these difficulties, all ‘anxious’ vacationers changed their vacation spot,” says Romashkin.

Therefore, only reliable tourists continue to come to Crimea, one could say; there are practically no random people there. Moreover, many tourists canceled trips but didn«t take their money back, and we see a process of restoring these vouchers, meaning these people are, so to speak, not completely lost for Crimea. Furthermore, because prices dropped by an average of 15%, tourists cancel an old booking made, for example, in March at a price of 100,000 rubles ($1,100), and buy the same vacation for 85,000 rubles ($900),” says Sergey Romashkin.

Only the Big Ones Will Survive

“Yesterday the owner of a guest house in Sudak canceled our booking from September 9 to 15. We booked on ‘Sutochno.ru.’ I called to ask why. She says the city is completely without power. Many small guest houses are closing the season early. So we«re thinking, should we cancel Crimea altogether or find a big hotel with generators?” — many participants in tourist chats and forums are asking questions like Nastya from St. Petersburg.

It turned out that it«s easier for small guest houses and mini-hotels to close than to work without generators, explaining to tourists why there»s no electricity and water in their rooms. Moreover, two or three booked rooms can«t cover the operation of the entire hotel. But large Crimean hotels and sanatoriums, on the contrary, hope that August and September will attract to the peninsula those who aren»t scared by everyday difficulties. And they try as they can to make the vacation pleasant: they buy additional generators, solar panels, electric scooters to deliver guests to the beach, and improve spa complexes. And they count on Crimeans sitting without constant electricity and water. Spending at least a weekend in a comfortable hotel where, thanks to their own generation, there is electricity, pools work, and delicious food is prepared — is already a pleasant opportunity to live normally for at least a few days. Therefore, all large accommodation facilities offer discounts for peninsula residents from 30 to 50 percent. The same for tourists from the Southern Federal District and New Territories. For guests from the mainland, discounts on accommodation are more modest — 15–30 percent.

“If we talk about prices for vacations in Crimea, they have, of course, decreased by an average of 15 percent,” continues Sergey Romashkin. “I admit that there are some promotions on the market where prices have dropped by half, if the owners of those hotels decided to go all-in. But generally speaking, we don«t see such a massive sharp decline. The drop is, so to speak, restrained, but even that is interesting to tourists.”

“In Kurpaty there«s the ‘Palmira Palace’ hotel, four stars. It has a very powerful generator, so everything works, there»s always electricity, elevators to the beach, restaurants, luxurious grounds, very tasty food, a gorgeous beach, even divided into zones for children and 18+, which is very convenient. Pools, slides, spa also available. It«s certainly not cheap, but there are discounts now. We spent the first half of July at the ‘Gorny’ sanatorium in Kurpaty, right above ‘Palmira.’ We could tell by their generator when our electricity would come back. When the power went out in the evening, we went there for a walk, to the restaurant. Everything works there, interesting programs every evening for both children and in the restaurant. If you assess the situation objectively and are prepared, you can go,” believes Alina from Moscow.

“Yes, currently a limited number of hotels operate in Crimea — most mini-hotels and guest houses have closed, medium-sized ones can«t work because they need a lot of energy at once, and they don»t have the corresponding capacity, but the giants continue to operate,” continues ATOR vice president Sergey Romashkin.

Indeed, compared to late June–early July, there are more people on the beaches. Inflatable rings, catamarans, and paddleboards have been brought out; boats and yachts have docked at the piers; the usual resort activity has begun — though not as loud and bright, since at night there is no street lighting or illuminated signs on the coast.

“Good morning, Crimea lovers, we returned home yesterday. For the first time in 8 years, we«re spending August not in Simeiz. We left early due to the lack of electricity, no opportunity to work remotely. If we had known the real picture before the trip, we would have prepared better. First, the sea is clean, the sun is hot, plenty of tasty and fresh food. Second, it»s better to immediately choose a vacation with a generator. Third, be prepared for evenings by candlelight and no connection. And master the skill of cooking on a fire or a gas camping stove. And take a power bank! Those who are ready to feel like a real tourist will really, really enjoy Crimea today!” believes Vladimir from St. Petersburg.

“The Pluses Outweigh the Minuses”

“The climate in Crimea can«t compare to anything. Say what you will, it»s really different, and the water too. We«re now in Ordzhonikidze with friends, they»re in Crimea for the first time, and here are my friend«s words: ‘I»ve never breathed like here anywhere, and the water is completely different, just a different sea!’” writes a participant in the Telegram chat “Crimea — Tourist Main Chat.”

“In all difficulties you can find positive moments. Tourists who love vacations without crowds, uncrowded beaches, no lines during excursions, free tables in cafes — for them this may outweigh the everyday discomfort. Currently, there is one tourism industry employee for every vacationer in Crimea, so the service this season is very high. I was recently told about a legendary hotel where there are currently 18 cooks for 18 vacationers. That«s any tourist»s dream! And such tourists exist: I look at our bookings, and there are some for August, there are several vouchers in September, one even in October. That is, this is already a normal picture for early August, when people start booking the velvet season, knowing about all the difficulties of vacationing,” believes Sergey Romashkin.

Indeed, among the stories “How I vacationed this summer in Crimea,” there are many enthusiastic reviews that were not affected by everyday discomfort.

“Actually, this whole situation is a good exercise in setting priorities. For us, the sea and beach come first, food, bed, and shower second. Electricity and connection come third; we«re hikers, we»re used to it. Despite the difficulties, there«s a basic minimum for a normal vacation here: the fridge and AC don»t work, but there«s water until 10 p.m. (apparently while the generator works),” guests from Samara in Yevpatoria aren»t upset.

“Yesterday we gathered without electricity in our guest house with the owners, grilled shashlik, vegetables, fruits, wine, and laughter. Our children are outside all day (either the sea or just outside), cheerful and happy. Mine, by the way, heard the buzzing sound once; the rest of the time they sleep. It«s me who doesn»t sleep and prays. So you can rejoice in everything, just as in the opposite. We didn«t leave after the first restless night — and already have a beautiful tan and have completely forgotten about work. What I want to say about Gaspra — ideal sea, breathtaking air and nature, and amazing people. Kind, responsive, and very open. I hope the situation stabilizes, and we»ll come here again. To look at the sea, mountains, relict trees under the window. This eclipses a lot!” maintains the level of optimism Ekaterina in the Telegram channel “Crimea — Tourist Main Chat.”

And prudent tourists like Elena from Tver experience almost no difficulties:

“The main thing is to think everything through ‘on shore’; we were prepared for outages: we took a UPS and batteries for it, battery-powered lamps, diesel in canisters, but it hasn«t been needed yet. Fourth day in Yalta. Yesterday and today the water wasn»t cut off. There still hasn«t been electricity. The first two days were adaptation and discomfort. Without electricity it»s unusual and inconvenient. Today I realized that everything is fine, the pluses outweigh the minuses. Few people, everything is in the stores, the sea is wonderful!”