We can’t buy food and medicine: pensioners in occupied Mariupol complain about high prices and queues

In occupied Mariupol, pensioners stand in lines for 5-6 hours, pass out from the long wait for the promised increase in Russian pensions. And new payments will have to wait from three months to six months.

Residents of occupied Mariupol, the occupiers promoted the topic of increasing payments, so the old residents of the city rushed to social security centers. Pensioners complain that the 10,000 rubles they receive is not enough at all – the prices of products increase almost every day. To buy products at more affordable prices, people go to Taganrog, Donetsk. Although everything is expensive in Donetsk too.

“It has become difficult with such prices, and the quality of the products is very poor. So we get together with our neighbors and fill up the car and someone goes and buys vegetables, cereals, sugar, flour. We even take bread in batches, then store it in the freezer. In Mariupol, the quality of bread and bakery products is very poor. In addition, the price is overstated,” said a pensioner, a resident of Mariupol.

According to him, the cost of bread in Mariupol is 50-60 rubles, and in Taganrog – 25-35 rubles.

Not only retirees complain about the prices, but also young residents of the city. They complain that the cost of food and medicine in Mariupol is the same “as in Moscow.” They also complain about low salaries and pensions, many have no work at all. At the same time, they curse the occupation administration, which does nothing to help – inspections seem to take place, but everything remains unchanged.

“Prices are inflated, both for products and medicines. Lawlessness, no control”, “In Ukraine, prices are lower than ours”, “Very high prices, like in Moscow. But our salaries are not Moscow’s”, “How can you survive on a meager salary or pension?”, “Many people do not have a job and what to do?” – people write in local publications.

So, after the publicized increase in pensions, the elderly residents of Mariupol are lining up every day to have their pensions recalculated.

According to the residents of Mariupol, they have been in line since five in the morning and have to stand for 5-6 hours to see a specialist. Even after getting to the office, there are no guarantees that the documents will be accepted.

“I arrived at half past five in the morning and was already the 28th in line. Later, about 70-80 people gathered in the corridor, there was nowhere to sit, only four chairs for all visitors. I have to stand, my legs hurt. And when I finally got to the office, it turned out that there was no document and I was sent home with nothing. I walked and cried all the way, why are we doing this,” the woman complains.

Now this pensioner will have to go through all the circles of hell again. In addition, it is not known how long we will have to wait for the promised increase in pensions.

“I asked when to expect a promotion, and I was told – no earlier than three months, or even six months. That supplement will probably be given during the elections,” adds the old man.

He says that he feels very bad, his health is completely shaken, and it is very difficult to get to a doctor, they say – go to Rostov or Taganrog.

“So I probably won’t live to see that promotion. Because there is no medicine, and no one can take me to Rostov or Taganrog,” laments the pensioner.

It is becoming more and more difficult to leave the temporarily occupied Mariupol and other populated areas of Donbas. Ten European countries have banned the entry of cars with Russian license plates. Therefore, residents of the territories captured by the Russians, who have already re-registered their cars and are trying to evacuate to Ukraine via Europe, may have difficulties. In addition, the Russian Federation itself limited the entry of Ukrainians through third countries.