Putin ‘might jump out of a window’ after fuel shortages pile on more pressure

The petrol crisis in Russia is reaching a tipping point, causing Vladimir Putin’s leadership to come under scrutiny.

Foreign officials have raised concerns about the dictator’s approach to the crisis – which has caused fist fights at petrol pumps – as he continues his war in Ukraine.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland: ‘Even among the oligarchs, more and more are doubting Putin’s war. Many who spoke of victory a year ago no longer believe it.’

Ukrainian strikes on key oil facilities in Russia are causing serious harm to the economy.

Ukraine has vowed to stop the strikes if Putin halts his debilitating war – but he refuses to do so, at an increasing cost to Russians.

‘Putin could change his goals and enter into serious negotiations – if he acts rationally,’ Tsahkna added.

‘It’s just as possible that one day he’ll jump out of a window with his family. After all, things like that happen in Russia.’

Anger at Putin isn’t just amongst oligarchs – multiple drivers joined a fight in the town of Penza after motorists were accused of jumping the queue.

In Moscow, a woman was in tears as she claimed a knife-wielding man had slashed her tyres, accusing her of cutting him off in the line. 

‘This guy just ran out, threatened me with a knife, and slashed my tyres because he thought I was cutting in front of him at the petrol station,’ she said.

In the mining town of Serov in the western region of Sverdlovsk Oblast, officers were called after a male driver punched a woman while shouting at several others.

A fight also broke out at a forecourt in the western city of Ryazan.

At one petrol station in Siberia, two women were seen arguing over who was ahead in the line.

Mafia groups have also sought to capitalise on the shortage, with police in one region forced to intervene after a cabal was caught reselling fuel at triple its market price.

It comes as Ukrainian forces hit several critical targets, including a drone strike on the Moscow refinery of oil giant Gazprom Neft.

Putin attempted to address the growing crisis, which has spread to all of Russia’s 83 regions.

He conceded Ukrainian air strikes on infrastructure had caused ‘problems’ for motorists and businesses, but insisted fuel reserves were only four per cent down on last year.

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