Russian fuel shortages bite – but will Putin change tack in Ukraine war?
If you want to get an idea about the fuel crisis affecting Russia, all you have to do is spend a day wandering around Moscow. There was a line of cars and trucks at almost every gas station we passed. Some lines were long, some were short; Some are static, some are constantly moving.
If there was no queue, it meant the garage was completely out of fuel and was shut down.
Remember: This is Moscow, a rich, populous capital that draws most of Russia’s vast resources. Even here, authorities cannot guarantee that there will be enough gasoline and diesel to keep Muscovites on the roads.
However, the mood in the queues was one of frustration rather than anger. Yekaterina told us she was “not happy” and that “there was panic because everyone thought there would be no oil.” But that’s okay, he said, “we just need to reorganize the oil distribution.”
Saying that the situation is “very bad”, Elmar complained that prices have increased due to the decrease in fuel stocks. “You’re wasting hours trying to fill it out,” he said. “I’m currently planning a trip to Dagestan, but I don’t know if I should drive there because there are too many problems with gas.”
I asked him who was guilty. “In our country you can’t say what’s to blame and who’s to blame,” he said with a knowing smile.
In Russia, criticizing the president or even the Kremlin is not something most people can do publicly.
Valery said it was strange to stand in line in a country that produces so much oil. He blamed Russian unpreparedness as well as Ukrainian missiles. “I have no intention of getting used to queues,” he said. “Hopefully this situation will change soon and it won’t continue like this.”
So the war is coming close to home for many people all over Russia.
President Vladimir Putin has worked hard to protect most people from the consequences of the special military operation, now in its fifth year. On the streets of Moscow you can see very few traces of the war, only a few posters about heroic soldiers.
