Panic trade erupts in Russia as shoppers scramble for sugar as Western sanctions hit

Pensioners have been seen scrambling for bags of sugar as international sanctions begin to hit the Russian people’s essential supplies

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Russians scramble for roads as panic buying continues

Shoppers in Russia panicked shopping at supermarkets across Moscow as international sanctions over the Ukraine invasion began to affect essential supplies.

People were caught on camera scrambling for roads as a new delivery man was delivered to a Perekryostok store north of the capital.

Anna, a local resident who filmed the noisy scuffle, told Podyom media that people behaved aggressively because they were scared by the empty shelves.

They fear a possible serious economic crisis due to punitive sanctions that cause the ruble to plunge in value.

“There are empty shelves – no salt, no sugar, no pasta, no buckwheat, and just expensive rice,” says Anna.

According to Latest updates on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in our live Blog

“All of a sudden people saw a trolley full of road and ran towards it.

“They attacked this truck, pushed and jostled each other.

“They took as much as they could for themselves, leaving no way for others.

“I wanted to share its horror. We have to keep the people.”

Another disturbing race for the road was witnessed in Oryol, 230 miles south of the capital, as people scrambled to buy bags before they sold out.

Russians have been told not to panic buy or hoard, but they lack confidence in official assurances that supplies will continue despite Western sanctions over Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Russian prosecutors have begun checks in 26 regions on suspicion of artificially high prices, and some shops are starting to split the amount people can buy.

In Kiselevsk, Siberia, a local said: “There has been no sugar for three days, I have been trying to shop the whole time. Are we asking for too much?

“No sugar, no salt, but the shelves are empty. What is this? An artificially created deficit? Bewildered and bewildered to buy? ”

In the Primorsky region, demand for sugar increased by 400% as authorities demanded an end to panic buying.

The local commerce ministry said: “500 tonnes of sugar is expected to be delivered to the area soon.

“This amount will cover any potential shortfalls.”

Even so, Russia blocked grain exports to the former Soviet Union and stopped exporting “raw white sugar and cane to third countries”.

Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko said: “There is no condition about the risk of shortage or reduction of product range.

“It’s not worth it to drive artificial demand with purchases for the future.

“We will reorient the market and establish mutually beneficial trade, expanding our network of partnerships with friendly countries.”