Putin is facing a growing economic crisis (Image: Getty)
Russia is facing a growing food crisis marked by soaring prices and widespread shortages.
New data released on Thursday by ‘s Federal Statistics Service show drastic increases in almost all basic staple food products.
A kilogram of potatoes is at least 73 percent more expensive than at the beginning of the year, while butter is over 30 percent higher.
Onions and beets are up by more than 20 percent, with milk and bread at least 15 percent more expensive than in 2023.
A kilogram of potatoes is at least 73 percent more expensive (Image: Getty)
Eggs have also doubled in price since last year, according to Russians who are struggling to make ends meet.
Tatyana, a 72-year-old from the Russian city of Kirov, told Bloomberg she now spends about two-thirds of her pension on food alone.
Part of the reason for the price hikes is due to problems in the supply chain, which is leading to a shortage of basic foods.
Potato harvests in are down by over a million tonnes from 2023, a significant drop.
This year only 7.3 million tonnes were harvested, compared to more than 8.5 million in 2023.
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The Kremlin is desperately scouring the world for extra supplies of potatoes amid growing public anger.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev has instructed ministers to increase imports of potatoes from “friendly countries”.
“I’ve asked the Economic Development Ministry and Agriculture Ministry to look at importing potatoes from friendly countries to meet growing demand for potatoes,” he said.
“But we realise that we need to develop our own production, and we will be working on meeting demand for the produce that we grow on our own fields.”
This year has already seen a sharp increase in potato imports to from Belarus, China and Armenia.
Imports from Belarus are up by over 60 percent, while there has been a threefold increase from China and a sevenfold one from Armenia.
The Kremlin hopes to tap more supplies from Egypt, Azerbaijan and Pakistan.