As of: January 22, 2024, 12:42 p.m
By: Victoria Krumbeck
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Press
Split
The consequences of the war in Ukraine are being felt in Russia.
There is the largest protest movement since the outbreak of the war.
Putin is under pressure.
Moscow – Russian statesman Vladimir Putin is facing troubled times.
Discontent in the country is growing, just before the elections in the spring.
In addition to the war in Ukraine and the high losses, the people of Russia are also struggling with the economic consequences.
Whether it's too low social spending, skyrocketing egg costs or a dilapidated infrastructure - there's a lack of money everywhere.
Many people are expressing their displeasure and criticizing the Russian president's policies.
Presidential elections in Russia: protests and criticism of Putin
Since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, military spending has skyrocketed.
For the 2024 fiscal year, Russia is expected to spend around a third of its budget on the military.
Many other areas are suffering from large financial plans.
Dissatisfaction with the economic situation is noticeable in Russia.
In a widely viewed video in Russia posted by Anton Gerashchenko on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday (January 20), an elderly woman speaks openly about her dissatisfaction with Russia's economic situation.
“I would tell him to f*** off!
Yes, in the situation we are in now, there is nothing else to do, nothing.
“Do you understand?” Ms. said, according to Gerashchenko’s inserted translation.
“I'm 82. I've been through so much.
I experienced this war, I know how hungry I was.
I'm still just as hungry now.
There was nothing back then.
We fed each other, helped each other, and gave each other food.
Now there is plenty [of food in stores] and we are all hungry,” the woman continued.
Gerashchenko is an advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.
The authenticity of the video cannot be verified.
Supply outages in Russia and expensive food: “Failure of government work”
The woman is alluding to the high food prices that Russian citizens expect in supermarkets.
Most recently noticeable in the high prices for eggs.
The price has risen by more than 40 percent within a year.
There is great criticism of Russia's economic situation.
In Putin's annual question-and-answer session at the end of the year, he even admitted the grievances.
An older woman complained about the low pensions and high prices.
Putin apologized and spoke of a “failure of government work.”
He assured that the situation would be rectified in the near future.
Ahead of the Russian presidential elections in March, criticism of Vladimir Putin is growing.
© Sergei Savostyanov/dpa
In addition to the high food prices, there are problems with the infrastructure.
There have been repeated supply outages in Russia for some time now.
Thousands of residents have to endure double-digit temperatures without heating or hot water.
According to AFP, a heating pipe burst in the city of Novosibirsk on Wednesday (December 17th), the second in a few days.
The central heating and hot water supplies had previously failed in more than a hundred residential buildings, schools and hospitals in the city.
In the city of Podolsk, near Moscow, with a population of 350,000, around half of the residents had no functioning heating at the beginning of the month.
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Russia: Fire broke out in gas terminal – young people are “afraid of everything”
In addition, a terminal on the premises of the Russian natural gas producer Novatek in the Leningrad region caught fire on the night of Sunday (January 21), as the German Press Agency reported.
The Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga is located near the border with NATO member Estonia.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a Ukrainian drone was intercepted in the area last week.
However, a reason for the fire in Ust-Luga was not given.
In the video posted by Gerashneko, when asked whether the young generation still has a future in Russia, the 82-year-old woman replied that young people are afraid.
“You are afraid of everything.
“You’re afraid to say something,” said the woman.
She added: “Don’t be afraid.
If you're afraid, then nothing will ever change.” Protests directed against the Moscow regime have become more frequent recently.
Before presidential elections in Russia: Largest protest movement since the Ukraine war
According to media reports, around 2,000 people have repeatedly taken to the streets in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan on the Volga River.
The reason for this is the conviction of the local eco-activist Fail Alsynow.
Videos of peaceful men and women holding hands and chanting were shared on social media.
In addition, images of people in prison transports also appeared.
The police are said to have arrested several people.
Bashkortostan is located about 1,300 kilometers east of Moscow.
The Kremlin is playing down the demonstrations.
“There are no mass unrest and mass protests there,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as the dpa wrote.
In fact, it is said to be one of the largest protest movements in Russia since the war of aggression against Ukraine began.
At least in parts of Russia, resistance to Putin is noticeable.
No impact on the elections, which will take place from March 15 to 17, 2024, is expected.
Putin's re-election is almost certain due to Russia's rigged electoral system.
(vk)