Key Points
- Volodymyr Zelensky said China warned Vladimir Putin not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
- Zelensky said the warning came after Russian media raised questions about possible nuclear retaliation for Ukrainian strikes.
- Ukraine said it struck more Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov on Thursday.
- Kyiv said 36 Russian ships were hit and set on fire in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea in the first four days of the week.
- Ukraine said most of the vessels were so-called Russian shadow fleet tankers used to deliver fuel to Crimea.
- The attacks have intensified fuel shortages across Russia, with reports of higher prices and long queues at petrol stations.
UK (Liverpool standard) July 11, 2026 – President Volodymyr Zelensky has said China told Russian President Vladimir Putin not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, as Kyiv widened its campaign against Russian fuel supplies in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
What did Zelensky say about China?
As reported by the Independent, Zelensky said he believed China had issued what he described as an ultimatum-like warning to Moscow over any thought of nuclear escalation. He said Russian media had been discussing whether Russia should respond to Ukrainian strikes with nuclear weapons, and that China had responded directly to rule out that option.
The remark is significant because Beijing has maintained close ties with Moscow while publicly presenting itself as a potential diplomatic actor in the war. Zelensky’s comments add a new layer to the international dimension of the conflict, although the article does not independently confirm the Chinese position beyond his statement.
What happened in the Sea of Azov?
Ukraine said its forces attacked a dozen more Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov on Thursday, according to the Independent’s reporting. Kyiv’s defence ministry said this brought the total to at least 36 Russian ships hit and set on fire in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea during the first four days of the week.
The ministry said 32 of those vessels were Russian shadow fleet tankers, with two dry cargo ships also included. It said the ships were all trying to deliver fuel to Crimea, the peninsula occupied by Russia.
The attacks form part of a broader effort by Ukraine to disrupt Russian logistics and make fuel deliveries more difficult to occupied areas. The reported targeting of tanker traffic also suggests Kyiv is expanding pressure beyond refineries and storage sites to include maritime supply routes.
How severe is the fuel crisis?
Reports from Reuters, the BBC, Al Jazeera, The Moscow Times and the Wall Street Journal all point to a widening fuel crisis inside Russia. Reuters reported that several Russian regions have introduced restrictions on fuel sales, including limits on how much motorists can buy at a time.
Reuters also said Russia was considering fuel imports by sea, an unusual step for a major oil exporter, because refinery damage from drone strikes has tightened supply. Putin later acknowledged fuel shortages in Russian regions and said a task force was working on supply problems.
The BBC reported that queues at petrol stations and disrupted supply have become visible signs of the crisis, while Al Jazeera described growing chaos at fuel stations across the country. Reuters also reported that fuel shortages had been documented in about a dozen regions and that Crimea had halted all sales to individuals and businesses at one point.
Why are the shortages spreading?
The main cause appears to be Ukraine’s continuing drone campaign against Russian refineries, pipelines and storage sites. Reuters reported that this campaign has cut refinery output and forced the government to impose an export ban on gasoline for producers until the end of July.
The RFE/RL tally reported that more than half of Russia’s regions were facing some form of shortage or restriction by late June. The same report said at least 17 regions had mandatory restrictions on gasoline and diesel sales, while dozens more had either shortages or private-sector limits.
The Independent’s account links the crisis to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, while the Wall Street Journal reported that around 28% of refining capacity was offline as of June 20. Together, these reports suggest the shortages are not isolated incidents but part of a broader strain on Russia’s energy system.
What measures has Russia taken?
Russia has begun rationing in some areas, with The Moscow Times reporting that at least six regions introduced an odd-even purchase plan for gasoline. Reuters said other regions had capped sales per vehicle, limited refuelling amounts, or imposed restrictions on fuel sold into containers.
Putin said gasoline reserves were being used and that July production should exceed June levels. He also said a ban on diesel exports was under discussion, showing the Kremlin is considering further steps to stabilise the domestic market.
Reuters reported that Russia has also looked to Belarus and, to a lesser extent, Kazakhstan for help, though neither has enough spare capacity to solve a major supply crisis. Importing fuel by sea may offer only temporary relief because logistics and costs limit how much can realistically be delivered.
What does this mean for the war?
The developments point to an increasingly contested economic front in the war, alongside the military one. Ukraine’s strikes on tankers and refineries are aimed at reducing fuel available for Russian forces and increasing pressure on occupied Crimea.
At the same time, the shortages are creating domestic consequences for Russian drivers, businesses and regional authorities. That may force Moscow to devote more resources to supply management, even as it continues to fight in Ukraine.
Background
Fuel shortages in Russia have built gradually over the course of 2025 and into 2026 as Ukrainian drone attacks targeted refining and transport infrastructure. Earlier reporting showed shortages first emerging in regions such as Crimea and the Far East before spreading to other parts of the country.
By late June, Moscow had already imposed export restrictions and acknowledged supply problems, indicating the issue had moved from a regional disruption to a national concern. The latest strikes on tankers in the Sea of Azov suggest Ukraine is now trying to intensify pressure on both fuel production and delivery routes.
Prediction
For Russian motorists, the most likely short-term effect is continued queues, rationing and price pressure at petrol stations if supply disruption continues. For businesses that depend on road transport, fuel instability could increase operating costs and slow distribution.
For people in Crimea and other occupied or border regions, the impact may be sharper because those areas are more exposed to logistics problems and maritime disruption. For the wider audience following the war, the episode suggests Ukraine is likely to keep targeting Russia’s energy supply chain as a way to shape the battlefield without direct large-scale ground advances.
