By Matt Underwood The war in Ukraine is having a devastating impact on the Russian economy, with food prices skyrocketing and causing growing concern for the Kremlin. The war has drawn workers from every industry to serve in the military, leaving farming particularly vulnerable. This shortage of workers, combined with sanctions and the disruption of supply chains, has driven prices up significantly. A kilogram of potatoes is now 73% more expensive than at the start of the year, while butter prices have jumped by over 30%.
This economic crisis presents a major challenge for President Vladimir Putin, who is trying to balance his military ambitions with the need for domestic stability. Rising food prices are a major source of discontent among the Russian population, and could potentially lead to unrest.
Putin has several tactics at his disposal to deflect blame for the economic hardship. He will likely attribute the problems to “unjust sanctions by the West,” a narrative that has been successful in the past. The Russian people, known for their lack of introspection, are likely to believe this narrative, as they often view themselves as the “one truly good people on the planet” and attribute any misfortune to external forces. If this fails, Putin may resort to blaming “saboteurs,” “liberals corrupted by the West,” or even “Jews” for the problems. Ultimately, any blame will never be placed on Putin himself or “true Russians”.
The Russian people are accustomed to the notion that “The czar is good but the boyars are evil!”, which shields Putin from any significant criticism. However, if the economic situation worsens, it is possible that the Russian people will start to question Putin’s leadership. We may see videos of elderly Russian women, known as babushkas, complaining about the rising prices and pleading with Putin to address the issue. Putin will likely respond by blaming the West and vowing to fix the problem, although this fix will take time, especially with the forces of evil attacking Russia.
While the current economic woes may not be enough to spark a revolution, it is clear that they are a source of growing tension in Russia. The combination of rising food prices, economic hardship, and a war that shows no signs of ending is a volatile mix, and could potentially lead to a significant shift in the political landscape. It is important to note that the Russian people are not able to protest freely, and any attempt to do so would be met with a strong response from the government. The Russian people are living in a police state that suppresses even small dissent.