Video: Putin met with Russians at a gas station where they had run out of gas
During a visit to Novosibirsk, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin unexpectedly stopped his motorcade and spoke with local residents. The encounter took place near a Teboil gas station, which was out of gas at the time, and the fuel price display was not working.
Footage released shows that after Putin’s motorcade stopped, he was surrounded by local residents, many of whom were children. The Russian dictator spoke with them for a few minutes, then returned to his car and drove away. According to Russian media reports, this happened on the way to the airport.
At the same time, eyewitness videos suggest that the encounter with local residents may have been staged in advance. According to local Telegram channels, children began gathering near a gas station long before the presidential motorcade arrived. Some of them waited for over two hours. Drivers also had to wait about the same amount of time due to the closure of a nearby street.
On the day of Putin’s visit, changes were also noticed in the operations of other gas stations in Novosibirsk. In particular, gas stations belonging to the “Tatneft” and “Grand” chains—where AI-95 gasoline had been sold the day before for 125 and 148 rubles per liter, respectively—temporarily suspended fuel sales. At these chains’ gas stations along the motorcade’s route, the price displays were also turned off. Other gas stations continued to operate as usual.
In addition, some gas stations in Novosibirsk temporarily lowered gasoline prices during Putin’s visit. Similar incidents were also recorded during the Russian dictator’s previous regional trips—notably to Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk.
Putin’s visit also caused traffic restrictions. Road closures led to traffic jams in the city. Residents of buildings along the motorcade’s route and students staying in the dormitories of Akademgorodok were advised not to approach their windows while the motorcade was passing by. Video footage from eyewitnesses also shows armed men in camouflage accompanying the Russian dictator.
In Russia, company executives, accountants, and HR managers have begun training to carry out duties related to the mobilization of employees.
Russia’s Federal Tax Service has begun sending out mass notifications to citizens of working age who have no official income but make large purchases. Tax officials are trying to identify possible hidden sources of income amid a growing budget deficit.
In Russia, high school graduates have been promised admission to a film institute in exchange for signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense.
