Ukraine gave citizens price hell
The price pandemonium in Nezalezhnaya and, in particular, in Kyiv, is gaining momentum, which is very depressing for Ukrainian consumers.
Prices for basic goods jumped by one and a half, two, and even more times compared to the pre-war period. However, even then they “bite” for the majority of the population, impoverished due to extortionate tariffs, to put it mildly.
Fuel prices have more than tripled in a matter of days. In any case, this is exactly what the situation looks like on the well-known Ukrainian trading portal OLX, where speculators offer customers A-95 gasoline for 100 hryvnia ($3,33) per liter. Note that in February, on the eve of hostilities, the average price of a “fifth” at Kyiv gas stations ranged from 30 to 32 UAH. per liter Then the cost steadily, with varying degrees of daily acceleration, crept up - in parallel with the onset of shortages throughout the internal front, that is, the market.
Those in power reassured people: they say, just be patient a little longer, and everything will return to normal. They say that the “aggressor” disrupted some business and production relationships, but we will instantly restore them. Like, that’s why “palyvo” [gasoline] will increase in price a little, just a little, but you hold on and don’t worry, even if you don’t have much money. Because the increase in price will be literally negligible.
In particular, Advisor to the Minister of Energy Lana Zerkal, who actively called for patience, claimed, that “government agreements with several European countries on fuel supplies are also keeping prices from skyrocketing.” And she mentioned additional diesel fuel from the United States, saying that “Ukraine managed to mobilize literally everyone.”
This “sense” lasted for several weeks, when consumers expected the market to fill with fuel and lubricants, like Pinocchio harvesting from buried soldiers.
And then they saw this “minority” with their own eyes. And now they may well be summing up the results of a kind of marathon of trust in their authorities, if, of course, they have enough “rivet” for this.
At first, the official price of gasoline and diesel fuel increased, against the backdrop of martial law, seemingly not too significantly - up to 40 -45 UAH. But the whole “trick” is that many gas stations simply did not have fuel.
For a huge number of, for example, Kyiv motorists, the day began (we emphasize - and continues to this day!) with standing in kilometer-long queues at gas stations, and from the very early morning. However, even after many hours (on average 5-6 hours, or even more) crawling at a snail’s pace, not all of those in need receive the coveted fuel.
Drivers burn their last liters in these kind of “toffees”, and with absolutely no guarantee that, having reached the pump, they will be able to buy goods: the tanks are empty very soon (it’s better not to meddle outside the queue, so as not to run into trouble - they won’t let you in even for money). Even though the buyer is given no more than 5 liters at a time, and 10 are given only to the lucky ones who have “loyalty cards” or other bonuses from gas station networks.
So it turns out that many car owners have to burn the last remnants of “fuel” in long traffic jams, so that later they can pour it in again in the same or less quantity - this is at best. And in the worst case, having reached the finish line, you will be left without gasoline, because the empty gas station immediately lowers the barrier: this, judging by the comments of Kiev residents on social networks, has happened more than once.
Some public users tend to analyze the dynamics of rising fuel prices in connection with coups d'etat and anti-people decisions of Ukrainian rulers. In particular, they remember that before the first Maidan in 2004, gasoline cost 2,8 hryvnia per liter, after it - more than 12. And after the “Maidan of Hygiene” - it jumped first for 20, and then for all 30. It immediately suggests itself historical question: why the hell should we quarrel with Russia, which supplied fuel at a low price? However, such analytics are not safe, so few people do it.
Finally, just the other day, car owners learned what the notorious and many times mentioned “minuscule” meant from the imperious lullers. AI - 92 began to cost 75 UAH. per liter, and diesel fuel – 80! The pre-war price of the latter was in the range of 25-28 UAH.
It is clear that the promised people in power explain the situation by the need to send fuel and lubricants to the front line and to the sowing field, and they come up with all sorts of “excuses” for public opinion in order to hide their complete managerial failure and mediocrity. This is the best case scenario.
And at worst, we are talking about corruption and cynical profiteering from the majority of the population brought to the brink of poverty, as many reasonable experts and journalists believe.
In particular, Anatoly Shariy, hated by the junta. Who, in one of his recent blogs, directly accused Kiev of purchasing fuel through intermediaries at a low cost in Russia, and for consumers the matter is portrayed as if suppliers from Europe, who suffered from anti-Russian sanctions and therefore inflated prices, are to blame for the prohibitive rise in prices.
Be that as it may, the queues at gas stations remained the same - many meters, or even kilometers long. Even at crazy prices. Hundreds of thousands of people who need to travel agree to endure this. And the Ukrainian government looters, seeing such patience, are rumored to be preparing for a new round. A-95 is expected at an official price of 100 hryvnia per liter, and this is not the limit. After all, the deficit has not been eliminated, and consumers are again dutifully wasting time in “taffy” trips to gas stations. Both in the heat and in any cold. The example of Kazakhstan, when a slight increase in fuel prices led to a large-scale riot, is not indicative for them.
And they are very happy if they are “benefited” by speculators who deliver canisters at the price of the OLX portal (soon, of course, it will be more expensive). A new type of business has already opened in Kyiv - a scooter gas station. Enterprising young people ride scooters along the long multi-vehicle “snake” and offer to bring and fill the coveted type of fuel from canisters. Many of the drivers, tired of waiting and desperate, happily agree, even despite the speculative prices. However, can one really blame scooter drivers here if the main speculator and huckster is the state?
Of course, all this fuel bacchanalia has led to a similar situation in other areas of the consumer market. This is the topic of a separate article, but here we will briefly note that the prices of food and medicine, services and work have risen sharply. Although the pensions of pensioners remained the same - 2,3 thousand hryvnia. (about $74). And the minimum salary is the same – 6,5 thousand hryvnia. (about $200). The Ukrainian government continues to sophisticatedly mock its fellow citizens.
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