Russia economy meltdown as cucumber price skyrockets by 111% | World | News

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.”