Posted on 06/11/2022 8:21:44 AM PDT by SpeedyInTexas
Eldar Gadzhiev’s heart sank when he heard the sputtering from the engine of his Skoda one day in April. Gadzhiev, who owns a fleet of four cars that he leases as taxicabs in Moscow, knew it was a terrible and expensive time for a breakdown.
Prices for spare parts, if you even could find them, had spiralled out of control since Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine two months earlier. “I understood that I was in a bad situation,” he said. “I thought: the repairs are going to cost as much as the car.”
Dealerships were useless, he said. His car parts shop told him that the waiting list was months long, time he could not wait to repair his vehicle.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
We have a large number of Russians and Ukrainians living in our community including a family of Russians living in my grandmother’s house. When we ask how their family back home is doing... they tell us that things were a little out of whack for a couple of months but that everything is basically back to normal these days.
That is from people who actually left mostly for economic reasons many years ago but typically go back to visit every year. They never have liked Putin or the political system there but say things have gotten so out of hand here that they have not ruled out moving back. The wife has never bothered to learn English in all of these years. We have such a large Russian community that it has not been a problem for her.
I am sure that there are people suffering in Russia, some of them as a result of the war and sanctions. But for the vast majority things have basically gotten back to normal. The country has had a huge influx of cash from the billions of dollars in additional funds coming in from their exports of oil, gas, food and fertilizer which have resulted largely from the virtue signaling “sanctions”.
Putin is viewed as a hero by many in Russia but those who are not fond of him cannot express their feelings or point of view without risking harm to themselves or their families. Seeing the light has nothing to do with it.
It is difficult to know what to say with someone who has basically no knowledge or understanding of what they are talking about. Does it feel good to have your opinions shaped by Biden and his cronies and make idiotic proclamations?
The average Russian monthly income right now is $1300 compared to $630 a year ago. If you are to factor the cost of living it is an equivalent of $60k a year in Chicago. And there is no shortage of baby formula or tampons in Russia.
> Terrible times. All fueled by Putin’s attempt to be in the history books as Putin the Great. <
True that. But as I’m sure you’d agree, Putin only made his move because we have a weak old fool in the White House. Because if that, I consider Biden to be an accessory here. His incompetence helped make it all possible.
The Guardian - read no further.
What light?
I have said essentially the same thing, many times.
Yeah? Well I’ve been told by Bitards that most Americans support Biden and this war. So yes, Americans bad. Suffering may help us see the light. So more of it.
Wouldn’t one of the Skoda dealerships in the USA have the parts he needs? I see them everywhere.
...are you being sarcastic? Skoda isn’t available in North America.
The story’s about auto part shortages in Russia.
You detected my sarcasm?
Sarcasm deployed in an rather bizarre way, to be honest.
“Hello Mr. Russian, there are plenty of Skoda dealerships in America, why don’t you get parts there?”
“But there aren’t any Skoda dealerships in America.”
“Exactly!”
“??”
I’m just not sure exactly what particular point you were trying to make in this instance.
CrimsonTideRuZZianGirl cheer up.
Thank you very much for your firsthand info which confirms what we are being told by our friends here who keep in contact with those still living in Russia. It is, however, a shame to dash the hopes and dreams of those who want to believe that Joe Biden and Co. are crushing Russia with their amazing policies. After his administration’s brilliantly planned exit from Afghanistan how can you blame them for being Biden’s greatest admirers?
Just practicing my stand-up comedy. You’re are tough crowd here on FR.
Please try and remember that SpeedyInTexas has been fully loaded up with the clot shots and triple boosted. He hasn't been making much sense since.
“They never have liked Putin or the political system there but say things have gotten so out of hand here that they have not ruled out moving back.”
Wow, but yeah I can see their interest in going back. I was just watching a video that just asked a simple question that Russia will likely have to answer. Basically it will go like this:
You know that little Ukraine war, heh heh, well we were just kidding, so would you mind ignoring that little thing and go back to selling us cheap oil, cheap gas, and cheap food and fertilizer, so we don’t freeze and starve this winter, heh heh? Please?
How does Russia respond?
His guess is that Europe will have to cut its ties with the US - meaning no more NATO - send the Americans and their toys and their nukes, back home. They don’t need this crap from the US anymore.
...and just like that, we are reduced from being king of the world, to just a regional power, strong enough to take on Canada and Mexico (maybe even at the same time), but that’s it. Nice job, NEOCONS.
It has little to do with Ukraine, things have become much more prosperous since they left Russia decades ago, and these last few months have not reversed the trend. If anything all the money that we are contributing to their economy through high energy costs etc... is improving things even more... even if certain items are in short supply.
Skoda is now a “economy” brand of Volkswagen sold mostly in Europe. So basically they have VW parts.
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