Wine production in annexed Crimea fell by one-quarter in the first eight months of 2026 due to fuel shortages and logistical bottlenecks triggered by intensifying Ukrainian attacks, the newspaper Kommersant reported Friday.
Data from Russia’s Federal Alcohol Market Regulation Service show Crimean still wine output dropped 24.7% year-on-year between January and August, while sparkling wine production fell 38%. In Russia, still wine output fell nearly 15% and sparkling wine dropped 14.5% over the same period.
Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, is a major regional supplier, accounting for 20% of all still wine and 10% of sparkling wine sold in Russia.
Industry experts told Kommersant that the production slump was due to Ukraine ramping up its attacks on the peninsula this summer, triggering an acute fuel shortage and disrupting shipping between Crimea and the Russian mainland.
Transporting essential production materials — including glass bottles, corks and packaging — has become increasingly expensive and hazardous, the experts said. Rolling power outages caused by strikes on energy infrastructure have further strained winemaking operations.
At the same time, fewer tourists have been traveling to Crimea due to deadly Ukrainian attacks, leading to a decrease in people making wine purchases while on vacation there.
Despite the current drop in output, winemakers anticipate a recovery later this year, buoyed by forecasts of a strong grape harvest expected to be the best in a decade.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
