November and December are referred to as probably the most miserable months in Moscow. The times are quick and darkish, and the climate is just too chilly and moist to be outdoor a lot however nonetheless too heat and wet to take pleasure in the actual Russian winter.
This yr, the sensation of melancholy is elevated by the sight of shuttered retailers on lots of the capital’s streets, as companies face the economic fall-out from large Western sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine, which Russian officers nonetheless name the “particular army operation.”
“The temper in Moscow and the nation is now extraordinarily gloomy, quiet, intimidated, and hopeless,” mentioned 34-year-old Lisa, who declined to offer her final title and mentioned she was a movie producer. “The planning horizon is as little as ever. Folks don’t know what may occur tomorrow or in a yr.”
Whereas the cabinets in most shops stay nicely stocked, Western merchandise have gotten more and more scarce and really costly, additional driving costs which might be already hammering many Russian households.
“Acquainted items disappear, ranging from rest room paper and Coca-Cola, ending with garments,” mentioned Lisa.
“After all, you may get used to all this, this isn’t the worst factor in any respect,” she mentioned.
However she additionally took a jab at Western governments and corporations which have left the Russian market in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
“I do not likely know the way this helps in resolving the battle, as a result of it impacts peculiar folks, not those that make choices,” Lisa mentioned.
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