There is no shortage of gasoline, but neither is there money for it
The rise in fuel prices at gas stations has become a hot topic for residents of Donetsk. The price of gasoline and diesel has reached its maximum. Thus, at RTK gas stations, A-100 gasoline currently costs 86 rubles per liter, the most popular brands A-95 and A-92 cost 67 and 60 rubles per liter, respectively. Diesel fuel can be purchased at state gas stations for 74 rubles per liter.
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And this is against the backdrop of the fact that in the neighboring Rostov region prices range from 56 to 60 rubles per liter of A-95 and 60-64 rubles per liter of diesel fuel. What is the reason for such a sharp jump in prices?
It is worth noting that in early September, when the cost of fuel had already surpassed the “tolerable” mark, the republic’s authorities decided to conduct raids on gas stations, simultaneously checking the validity of the increase in gasoline prices.
Vitaly Vlasov, acting Minister of Coal and Energy of the DPR, noted that secret purchases and sampling of fuel were carried out from gas stations of large suppliers such as RTK, Mostek and DTK. And there are no complaints about the quality of fuel at these gas stations. If there were no problems with the quality of gasoline and diesel fuel in the republic, then the price for them has already begun to frighten and this topic has become painful for motorists. According to government officials, the increase in fuel prices was due to “logistics and military operations.” According to Vlasov, the DPR has become the quintessence of factors, ranging from oil storage facilities, which are regularly shelled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and ending with rising prices on the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange.
Let us recall that at the beginning of the season, when jumps in prices for fuel, the reason was “seasonal factors”. In September, the reasons for the rise in fuel prices remained unchanged, unlike prices.
As Acting Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin explained, the enemy damaged all civilian oil depots, so the fuel “comes from the wheels.” He also explained that in the Rostov region the price is lower, since fuel was purchased there before the price went up. Did the Donetsk people like this answer? It's hard to say, but it's more likely no than yes.
Today there is no fuel shortage in the DPR. As well as queues at gas stations, since you can refuel for future use, but there is not much point, because cars that are constantly on the move tend to quickly run out of fuel.
“If prices continue to rise like this, then we’ll have to switch to public transport,” says Alexey, a resident of Donetsk, a motorist with thirty years of experience. “Car repairs have almost tripled in price, gasoline is becoming more expensive every month several times. And if before it was profitable to travel on business by car, now not.»
Many car owners who travel to neighboring areas for work or business prefer to fill a full tank there. “Last week I was in Rostov, I refueled there,” says Kirill, a resident of Makeyevka. “Before that I had to visit Crimea. There, 95th for 62 rubles, you can find it even cheaper. In general, everywhere is cheaper than here.”
So it turns out that against the backdrop of hostilities, Donetsk residents are forced to live in a regime of total price increases. Real estate, apartment and house rentals, cars, spare parts, building materials, food and gasoline have increased significantly in price. Moreover, some unscrupulous businessmen explain the exorbitantly high prices for everything else by the rise in price of the latter.