You only need to drive around Moscow for a day to get a feel of the fuel crisis that Russia is currently experiencing. There was a line of vehicles and trucks at practically every gas station we went by. There were long and short lines, as well as static and steadily moving lines. If there was no line, the garage was closed and had completely ran out of fuel. Recall that this is Moscow, the populous, affluent capital that attracts a large portion of Russia’s abundant resources. Even here, the authorities are unable to guarantee that there is sufficient gasoline and diesel to keep Muscovites on the road.
However, there was more frustration than anger in the lines. According to Yekaterina, there was “panic because everybody thinks there will be no oil” and she was “not happy.” However, she stated that “we just need to reorganise the oil distribution” and that everything would be fine. Elmar claimed that the situation was “very bad” and that as fuel supplies ran low, prices were rising. “You are wasting hours to fill up,” he replied. “At the moment I am planning a trip to Dagestan but I don’t know if I should drive there or not because there are so many problems with petrol.”
I questioned him about who was at fault. In our country, you can’t say what is to blame and who is to blame,” he remarked, grinning knowingly. Most Russians believe they are not allowed to publicly criticize the president or even the Kremlin. In a nation that extracts a lot of oil, Valery thought it seemed odd to have to wait in line. He placed equal culpability for Ukrainian rockets and Russia’s lack of readiness. “I have no desire to get used to queues,” he replied. “I hope the situation will change soon and won’t be continued.”
Also Read:
Officials Report that an Incident in Pakistan Killed Nine Police Officers
Meta is Ordered by India to Take Down Advertisements that Encourage Child Sexual Abuse
