Panic in Crimea: “Socially Significant Goods Are Released in Limited Quantities” 0 15

The authorities of Crimea called the absence of certain products in the peninsula's stores a "groundless hype."

Denis Krotyuk, the Minister of Agriculture in the Crimea administration, stated that there are products available on the peninsula.

"The harvest of fresh vegetables will begin along with young potatoes literally in a week. That is, we had enough stocks of last year's potatoes. Fresh ones will be available soon. Poultry and pork meat — these are completely the volumes that we provide for ourselves within the republic. Products such as salt and other basic goods, I won’t even mention — everything is clear with them. Grains are available in full volume. They are available, being delivered, and are in stock; they are also present in large retail chains. And the hype that has been created around certain types of grains and some raw materials is absolutely groundless. Because, firstly, everything is in warehouses. Secondly, we have never kept stocks for just one or two days. There have always been more. And most socially significant products are produced within the republic," the official stated in an interview with the local branch of VGTRK.

Krotyuk clarified that, despite fuel problems, priority is given to enterprises processing meat and milk, as well as factories engaged in fish processing. The occupying authorities are confident that in two weeks, by the start of the active harvesting campaign, farmers will be provided with "everything necessary," stated the host of a Russian television channel.

"I don’t even want to raise the topic of gasoline. But why, explain to me, are people buying up sugar? Are you going to starve and think, 'I’ll drink water with sugar and survive,' or what? By the way, Metro has introduced restrictions: no more than 10 kilograms of sugar per person," a local resident said in a previously published video on social media.

Sugar is necessary for processing fruits, another resident of the peninsula explained from a distance while inspecting the store shelves.

"It’s empty! I bought 6 kilograms of strawberries. What should I do with them?" a local resident says, showing empty boxes in a Sevastopol store that previously contained sugar.

Next to the empty boxes is a sign:

"Dear customers! Socially significant goods are released in limited quantities. Sugar, buckwheat, rice — no more than 3 kg per person. Thank you for your understanding."

Photos of empty shelves from other stores on the peninsula are being published on social media. At the same time, some eyewitnesses show that those very socially significant goods are not absent in all stores.

For gasoline, residents of the peninsula are traveling to Kuban, ASTRA previously reported. There are queues at the Crimean Bridge and at gas stations in the Krasnodar region.