Huge queues in Russia as prices skyrocket
9:55 AM EST, December 10, 2023
Recent developments in Russia evoke concern as citizens are forced to stand in long lines for basic groceries like eggs, reflecting the skyrocketing prices that have recently shattered inflation records. The escalation of the war led by Vladimir Putin has only exacerbated the already challenging life conditions in Russia, with no signs of improvement in the upcoming months.
Anton Heraschenko, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, actively shares updates about Russia on his profile on Platform X (previously known as Twitter). Among his recent posts, one drew attention to the city of Belgorod.
Situated within the European part of Russia, Belgorod lies on the Donets River, 25 miles north of the Ukrainian border and 432 miles south of Moscow. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolded in 2022, Belgorod became a significant logistics hub supporting the forces attacking northern Ukraine.
Home to nearly 400,000 residents, the city of Belgorod faces multiple challenges. A massive queue formed over the recent weekend for chicken eggs, with locals starting to line up from 7 AM Eastern Time at the farmers' market, where a dozen eggs were sold for 78 rubles ($0.9).
Public markets in Saratov also witnessed similar queues last weekend. The price of eggs in Russia has surged by 4.4 percent just in the past week, and a staggering 36.6 percent over the past year.
Russia's massive queues: Putin speaks out
Since 1999, Putin has effectively controlled Russia, initially as the president, then as the prime minister from 2008 to 2012 (while still pulling the strings behind the scenes), and later reassuming his position as the head of the state, a position he has now held continuously for over 11 years.
It's critical to note that the Russian budget for 2024-2026 has already been set. As soon as 2024, almost 40 percent of Russia's budget expenditure will be dedicated to war financing. Despite the deteriorating living conditions, Putin seems more invested in his imperialist aspirations than the welfare of common citizens.
"Russia's future is unequivocally intertwined with the combat performance of the soldiers participating in what is euphemistically called the 'Special Military Operation' in Russia - referring to the war in Ukraine," commented Vladimir Putin, as quoted by the state news agency RIA Novosti.
