Poverty is coming to Donetsk: Moscow is delaying aid
Yuri Kovalchuk
Journalist from Kherson, militia member, member of the “Somalia” detachment
Due to the strengthening of the Ukrainian blockade, Novorossiya is experiencing food shortages. The situation in the DPR and LPR is far from critical - the population can still purchase most of the vital products, but the range is steadily decreasing and, more importantly, prices are constantly rising. In the DPR, many products are already much more expensive than in Ukraine.
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In conditions when the vast majority of the population is left without work or has not received wages for six months, when socially vulnerable categories of the population do not receive pensions and benefits, such a situation is fraught with dire consequences.
The purchasing power of citizens is declining before our eyes. There is a risk that society will be stratified into the “lucky ones” who have income, and the vast majority, whose ability to purchase the necessary products will approach zero.
The leadership of the people's republics tried to solve the problem by inviting Russian producers to local markets. Unfortunately, so far these efforts have not been crowned with success - only Narzan and some types of alcohol appeared on the shelves. It looks like a subtle mockery of people who cannot buy meat, vegetable oil and other necessary food products.
In Donetsk they say that Russian manufacturers and retailers would be only too happy to enter this market, but cannot organize the delivery of their goods due to the policies of Russian customs. While Novorossiya is fully ready to accept Russian products, the fact remains that Novorossiya found itself under an economic blockade not only from Ukraine.
What is the reason? Perhaps in this way Moscow is trying to emphasize its non-involvement in the emergence and life of the unrecognized republics. In addition, this measure may indicate the desire of the Russian government to prevent the final secession of Novorossiya from Ukraine - the Russian Federation is relying on federalization.
The latter is also supported by the unsuccessful attempts of the LPR and DPR governments to introduce the ruble as a second currency. This intention has been expressed since the spring, but in Russia, apparently, this idea is treated very coolly.
Against this background, an interesting incident may arise. Recently, the head of the LPR, Igor Plotnitsky, voiced the idea of holding a referendum on joining the republic to Russia. If this event is held, there is no point in doubting the results of the expression of the will of the residents of Novorossiya - the overwhelming majority will want to go to Russia. Thus, officials in Moscow will be faced with a choice - either to integrate Novorossiya with all the ensuing consequences, or to ignore the referendum. However, there is no doubt that both Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky will be promptly warned about the undesirability of uncoordinated steps.
In any case, if in the foreseeable future the Ukrainian government does not lift the food blockade of Donbass, the population of Novorossiya will find itself in an unenviable position. The stocks in warehouses are not endless, and our own production is not able to provide the required quantity and range. Spring is ahead - vegetables from last year's harvest will soon begin to sprout and rot, and the next harvest will not come soon (if there is one at all).
In this situation, humanitarian convoys will need to be sent twice a day, otherwise problems will begin in Novorossiya, which will no longer be possible to hide with the fig leaf of political correctness and diplomacy.
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