Get you up to speed: Putin ‘might jump out of a window’ as fuel shortages pile on pressure | News World
Fights have broken out at petrol stations in various locations across Russia, including Penza and Serov, as tensions rise over fuel shortages. The unrest follows ongoing Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities, leading to a significant impact on the economy and rampant competition for petrol.
Ukrainian forces have targeted multiple critical oil facilities, including a recent drone strike on the Gazprom Neft refinery in Moscow. The fuel crisis has escalated across all 83 regions of Russia, prompting Vladimir Putin to acknowledge that Ukrainian air strikes have created significant challenges for motorists and businesses.
Vladimir Putin acknowledged the fuel crisis, stating that Ukrainian air strikes had caused “problems” for motorists and businesses, but claimed fuel reserves were only four per cent lower than last year. Meanwhile, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna warned that even oligarchs are increasingly sceptical of Putin’s war, suggesting that he could reconsider his stance if he acts rationally.
What remains unclear — The extent of public dissent towards Putin’s leadership amid the ongoing petrol crisis is not fully known.
Putin’s leadership faces scrutiny amid petrol crisis and rising public anger
The petrol crisis in Russia is reaching a tipping point, causing Vladimir Putin’s leadership to come under scrutiny.
Foreign officials have raised concerns about the dictator’s approach to the crisis – which has caused fist fights at petrol pumps – as he continues his war in Ukraine.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland: ‘Even among the oligarchs, more and more are doubting Putin’s war. Many who spoke of victory a year ago no longer believe it.’
Ukrainian strikes on key oil facilities in Russia are causing serious harm to the economy.
Ukraine has vowed to stop the strikes if Putin halts his debilitating war – but he refuses to do so, at an increasing cost to Russians.
‘Putin could change his goals and enter into serious negotiations – if he acts rationally,’ Tsahkna added.
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‘It’s just as possible that one day he’ll jump out of a window with his family. After all, things like that happen in Russia.’
Fights have broken out at petrol stations as Russians rage (Picture: east2west)
Anger at Putin isn’t just amongst oligarchs – multiple drivers joined a fight in the town of Penza after motorists were accused of jumping the queue.
In Moscow, a woman was in tears as she claimed a knife-wielding man had slashed her tyres, accusing her of cutting him off in line.
‘This guy just ran out, threatened me with a knife, and slashed my tyres because he thought I was cutting in front of him at the petrol station,’ she said.
In the mining town of Serov in the western region of Sverdlovsk Oblast, officers were called after a male driver punched a woman while shouting at several others.
A fight also broke out at a forecourt in the western city of Ryazan.
At one petrol station in Siberia, two women were seen arguing over who was ahead in the line.
Ukraine has continued to blow up Russian tankers (Picture: east2west)
Mafia groups have also sought to capitalise on the shortage, with police in one region forced to intervene after a cabal was caught reselling fuel at triple its market price.
It comes as Ukrainian forces hit several critical targets, including a drone strike on the Moscow refinery of oil giant Gazprom Neft.
Putin attempted to address the growing crisis, which has spread to all of Russia’s 83 regions.
He conceded Ukrainian air strikes on infrastructure had caused ‘problems’ for motorists and businesses, but insisted fuel reserves were only four per cent down on last year.
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