Kathrine Frich
The logistical fixes were temporary, leaving locals right back where they started.
When essential everyday supplies run low, entire regions can fall into panic as prices spike overnight.
But when powerful leaders travel far from capital cities, reality often gets a quick makeover before the cameras start rolling.
Cheaper by half
Drivers in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk pulled up to local gas stations this week and found a surprising scene. Fuel pumps that had been locked for days suddenly opened up, and prices dropped by more than half almost overnight.
Gasoline fell from 140 rubles down to just 67 rubles per liter. The reason for the sudden relief became clear when Russian leader Vladimir Putin arrived in town for an unannounced visit on Monday.
According to Le Monde cited by United24Media, the sudden price drop was a carefully staged political trick. Sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have crippled over one-third of Russia’s refining capacity, causing widespread black-market sales, strict rationing, and price hikes across the country.
Hiding the truth
Kremlin officials are working hard to project stability ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections in September. While energy supplies remain prioritized for Moscow and St. Petersburg, growing fuel shortages in outlying territories have raised fears of deep public anger.
During his brief stay, the president visited a youth patriotic event and met with local governor Mikhail Kotyukov. State television networks broadcasted stories highlighting economic progress in the region.
Yet state media completely omitted any mention of ongoing military troubles back in European Russia. On the exact same day, new Ukrainian drone strikes caused casualties near Moscow and the town of Gelendzhik.
Back to reality
The temporary relief in Krasnoyarsk evaporated almost immediately. As soon as the presidential motorcade departed for the airport, local gas stations resumed raising their prices.
Regional distributor Krasnoyarsknefteprodukt cautioned residents that actual fuel volumes remained strictly limited. The logistical fixes were temporary, leaving locals right back where they started.
The nationwide deficit has grown so severe that Russia has resorted to buying fuel from abroad. Russian energy giant Lukoil recently imported 30,000 metric tons of Moroccan gasoline through the Arctic port of Murmansk to offset massive domestic disruptions.
Sources: Le Monde, United24 Media
