"Back to the Soviet Union": Long queues in front of shops in Russia

Created: 03/23/2022, 17:20

By: Marvin Ziegele

People wait in front of an ATM in Moscow.

Since the sanctions against Russia, queues have formed in front of many shops.

© Christian Thiele/dpa

The people of Russia are feeling the consequences of the harsh sanctions against the country.

Long lines form in front of shops

Moscow – A month has passed since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine*, the consequences for the global economy are massive: rising energy prices, an exodus of foreign companies from Russia* and an imminent Russian state bankruptcy.

Sanctions against Russia have crippled the country's banking and financial system, and the Russian ruble has plummeted.

$300 billion worth of Russian foreign exchange has been frozen.

For the first time in decades, Russia now has to fear national bankruptcy.

Russia: People queue in front of shops because of the Ukraine war

But even in the food sector, the inhabitants of Russia are clearly feeling the consequences of Vladimir Putin*'s war of aggression against Ukraine.

"I think we're going back to the Soviet Union more and more," Elina Ribakova, deputy chief economist at the Institute of International Finance, told the Guardian.

She indicated that the Russian government is likely to continue to isolate itself from the global economy.

"I don't think it will be a temporary shock and then unless there is a change of government we will go back to liberal democracy and re-enter the world."

In particular, staple foods such as sugar are in great demand during the Ukraine conflict*.

Sugar queues in the city of Saratov were almost comparable to Soviet times, according to a Guardian report.

In early March, just a week after Russia invaded Ukraine, sacks of sugar and buckwheat disappeared from local markets.

And when the local mayor's office announced last week that it would hold special markets for buying basic necessities, hundreds of people turned out.

Ukraine war: "This is crazy"

“People exchange tips on where to get sugar.

This is crazy," said one resident, according to the report.

He said his grandmother had hired him to visit the special market last weekend to stock up.

"It's sad and funny.

It feels like a month ago everything was fine and now we're talking about the 1990s again and buying products because we're afraid they'll disappear.” (marv)