In a surprising move, Vladimir Putin publicly admitted on Russian state television that the country has run out of one of its most essential food staples — potatoes. The statement, made on May 14, sent shockwaves through the Russian public and highlighted the growing economic strain now reaching ordinary consumers. According to Der Spiegel, the Russian president openly stated: “We don’t have enough potatoes,” adding that last year’s harvest has already been depleted.
For millions of Russians, accustomed to relying on potatoes as an affordable, daily food, the news was alarming. Potatoes are not only a dietary staple but also crucial for vodka production. As Der Spiegel reports, in the first few months of 2025, potato prices in Russia have surged by 52%, while the overall harvest dropped by 12%.
This shortage is more than an agricultural hiccup. It reflects a systemic crisis within an economy drained by Western sanctions, internal restrictions, and ongoing militarization for the third consecutive year. Although public reaction to the shortage has not yet been officially addressed, the fact that such an admission was made on national television indicates the severity of the situation.
The Kremlin is now placing its hopes on its ally — Belarus. But even there, conditions are far from stable. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, according to the state news agency BelTA, has already urged citizens to “grow enough to feed both ourselves and Russia.” He reminded his audience that potatoes have long symbolized Belarusian agricultural strength and referred to his own past as a director of a state-run farm. Nevertheless, Lukashenko admitted that Belarus’s reserves have also been exhausted, in large part due to Russia’s recent aggressive buying.
Lukashenko stated bluntly: “We must help our brothers, the Russians,” adding that if Belarus excels at one thing, it is growing potatoes. He also hinted at the economic opportunity, noting that agricultural exports to Russia could be a lucrative move given Moscow’s growing shortage.
Still, Belarus itself is under pressure: vegetable prices have officially increased, and the government has had to revise price controls. In a notable policy reversal this week, Minsk even lifted its ban on fruit and vegetable imports from the European Union, which had been in place since December 2021 as retaliation against Western sanctions. This decision underscores the acute food supply issues and the government’s attempts to alleviate domestic tensions.
Russia and Belarus are bound within the so-called Union State — an economic and defense pact that increasingly resembles a center-periphery relationship, with Moscow relying heavily on Minsk to solve internal crises. As Der Spiegel notes, Moscow is actively leveraging this alliance to address growing domestic shortages, including basic foodstuffs.
Experts emphasize that the potato shortage is not just a problem of one crop. It symbolizes the broader weakening of the agricultural sector, plagued by sanctions, stagnating domestic production, and the collapse of traditional supply chains. In today’s Russia, even those products once considered untouchable elements of national prosperity are becoming scarce.
As Der Spiegel puts it, “the crisis of the Russian economy is gradually reaching the consumers.” And now, that reality is no longer expressed in abstract inflation figures — but in the tangible absence of everyday food on supermarket shelves.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Der Spiegel. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Der Spiegel.
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