Moscow/The shortage of gasoline in Russia due to the Ukrainian attacks on the country’s refineries has led transport companies to warn that they do not guarantee deliveries of products to stores and supermarkets in Saint Petersburg, the local newspaper reported this Wednesday. Fontanka.
The road transport companies sent a circular to several companies they supply announcing problems in supplying St. Petersburg, the second largest city in the country, normally.
The transporters request not to be fined, since this is a widespread problem and force majeure. According to Fontankathe notices that have been released come from companies located in the southern regions or those that cross the Volga River.
The supermarket chains defend that the situation is under control and rule out shortage problems, however the lack of fuel in the country, caused by the constant Ukrainian attacks against logistics and oil infrastructure, has now been going on for about a month.
According to Fontanka, the notices that have been released come from companies located in the southern regions or those that cross the Volga River.
In the regions further north of Saint Petersburg, such as Karelia, not as many problems are detected with diesel (generally used by trucks) as with gasoline, but product supply problems are also beginning to be detected, the media states.
Meanwhile, logistics companies, which were already operating with low margins, are having profitability problems, which has caused price increases of around 10%, the newspaper reported this week. Kommersant.
Internet users have decided to use irony to overcome the shortcomings. The Russians now claim that the best way to attract a girl’s attention and invite her on a date is to interest her with a can of gasoline, since gas stations no longer refill them and in general have imposed significant limits on the sale of fuel.
“I would like to meet you,” in a humorous video a young man says to a girl, who responds that she is not interested in the proposal. Immediately afterwards, the man reveals that he has a can of gasoline and the girl gives him her name.
These videos, sometimes with music and good editing, manage to garner thousands of ‘likes’ from Internet users who share in the comments their particular situation and the queues they have had to queue – sometimes in vain – in front of gas stations.
“My girlfriend lives 40 kilometers away and I’m wondering if it’s worth staying together or if I should look for a new love closer,” says a man, who accompanies the message with several laughing faces.
The situation with gasoline has restored the popularity of old musical hits such as The impossible is possible by the Russian singer Dima Bilán, winner of Eurovision in 2008, who published that song exactly 20 years ago.
“My girlfriend lives 40 kilometers away and I’m wondering if it’s worth staying together or if I should look for a new love closer”
“Where can I find you? Please tell me. What cities should I travel to to have you? I am willing to go to the end of the world, I must explain everything to you. Understand that I cannot live without you,” says the once popular song, which is now experiencing a new moment of glory.
According to Russian Internet users, who use the musical theme for their videos on Instagram, Bilan is ahead of his time and was able to foresee the situation with gasoline 20 years later.
“I don’t know how to prove it, but I’m sure that Bilan sings about gasoline is that song,” many Russians say. Meanwhile, limitations on fuel sales already affect 80 regions of the country, according to official media.
The authorities, for their part, deny the lack of supply, allege that the crisis is due to the sharp increase in demand, say they have the situation under control and are negotiating the possible import of fuel from third countries to alleviate the situation in the market.
