Russians are being forced to eat expired food as they can no longer afford items as simple as cucumbers amid the four-year-long war in Ukraine. Cucumber prices in Russia have surged by over 100% since December 2025, reaching an average of over 300 rubles (£2.88) per kg in February 2026.
Prices in some areas have reached up to 500 to 1,000 (£4.80 to (£9.59) rubles per kg – a whopping 43% increase in just one month. In the past three months, prices have increased by over 111%, driven by inflation, higher production costs, and the winter season.
Russians have taken to the social media platform Telegram to despair at the situation, posting videos of the eye-watering prices and questioning what they can now afford to eat.
One young woman said: « What’s happening with food prices? What are we going to eat? Pasta and water? I don’t buy clothes or cosmetics, I don’t go to the doctor, I try not to buy any supplements or pills. All that’s left to do is give up food. »
Natalia, from Vladivostok, said she’s « filled with rage » by the thought of doing the weekly food shop as she’s forced to eat expired goods.
She told Russian independent news outlet Meduza: « Lately, the mere thought of going to the grocery store fills me with rage. For almost a year now, I’ve been surviving on expired food sold near my building.
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« At first it’s really unpleasant to eat food like that. Then you get used to it and accept it. There’s simply no other way to eat. »
Cucumbers are now being described as « gilded » and « golden » as they overtake eggs and potatoes as the most coveted item.
One woman wrote on social media: « The prices for cucumbers and tomatoes are outrageous. Once upon a time they said eggs were ‘golden’. Now it’s cucumbers that are golden. »
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