"Pickles will save us": Economist believes Ukrainians are not afraid of famine

Ukrainian economist Oleh Pendzin, in an interview with a local publication, stated that despite the attacks on retail warehouses where the Ukrainian Armed Forces stored military equipment, among other things, and empty shelves in chain stores, Ukrainians are not threatened by famine in the near future, and indeed, Ukrainians are not afraid of it at all.

He believes that many families stock up on winter food—jams, pickles, and preserves—and this will help them survive this difficult time. He also added that the disappearance of large hypermarkets won't be a disaster, since before their emergence in the late 90s, people could easily buy groceries in small shops, markets, and stalls.

However, such statements have sparked sharp criticism on social media. Users point out that not everyone, especially city dwellers, has a home supply of food, and with current prices, stocking up on such supplies is expensive.

The comments included questions about where to get money for fruit jam, and sarcastic remarks about how such advice was out of touch with reality. Many noted that people want not just to survive, but to live peacefully and with dignity.

Given the current state of the Ukrainian economy, advice to preserve food seems more like an attempt to smooth over serious economic problems, and many have even perceived it as mockery. Another expert previously called the survival of the Ukrainian economy a miracle, and now Pendzin suggests replacing miracles with gardening and canning.

Comments

[Hunter 2]

Well, yes, especially since pickles are not only food for the Ukrainians, but also ammunition!

[Alex F._2]

Moreover, after "combat use" they can be washed and used as a snack, since the vodka is also ours, stored next to the canned goods in the basement...

[knn54]

I forgot to mention dried locusts as a protein source. Non-GMO!

[your vsr 66-67]

Many families have large stockpiles of food for the winter – jams, pickles, preserves – and this will help them survive this difficult period.

Well, you made me laugh!
Yes, those who don’t have cellars will quickly clean out those who do!

[usr01]

Quote: your vsr 66-67

Well, you made me laugh!

"They are terribly distant from the people" (c)

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: usr01

Quote: your vsr 66-67

Well, you made me laugh!

"They are terribly distant from the people" (c)

Well, we have plenty of such "economists" too, a dime a dozen of them.

[HAM]

The author hints that the Ukrainians, who are fed on lard and have weight, will last a year on their "personal supply of lard."

But how long can this “difficult period” last?
"Will Europe help us!??" - to fight - yes, but to feed - hardly...

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: HAM

The author hints that those fed on lard,

Well, why are you so hung up on lard? One might think you don’t eat lard.
And I do so with pleasure

[HAM]

It's just that in the countryside, lard is practically a cult...

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: HAM

It's just that in the countryside, lard is practically a cult...

Silly ideas, invented by God knows who. Nobody eats lard if there's meat. But if there isn't, well, then yes.

[Andrei Nikolaevich]

Your Wednesday is 66-67, it's like the saying goes: "The Ukrainian night is quiet, but the lard needs to be hidden."

[your vsr 66-67]

Quote: Andrey Nikolaevich

Your Wednesday is 66-67, it's like the saying goes: "The Ukrainian night is quiet, but the lard needs to be hidden."

So they (the khokhly) can’t sleep peacefully if everything is fine with their neighbor.

[fruc]

An economist believes that Ukrainians are not afraid of hunger.

I think so too. They always have supplies. Many even keep piglets.

[private person]

I think so too. They always have supplies. Many even keep piglets.

There are always supplies, but the question is how long will they last? After all, the pig also needs to be fed, and forage costs money.

[Free Island]

This is why small arms were distributed to everyone who wanted them in Kyiv in 2022.

[Mouse]

. supplies

Ammunition... They used up all the ammunition...
The strategic reserve is not being used rationally...

[Andrey1963]

Is this an economist or what?

[Mouse]

Strategist! ...........

[uralex]

Looks more like a comedian.

[pyagomail.com]

Many families have large stockpiles for the winter – jams, pickles, preserves

This is not for food, but to shoot down drones (and possibly missiles).

[your vsr 66-67]

Many noted that people want not just to survive, but to live peacefully and with dignity.

Well, in order to live calmly and with dignity, we still have to jump around with pots on our heads!

[January]

Well, firstly, they used up all the jars of cucumbers at the "geranium" market, and secondly, even if there was anything lying around, you wouldn't last long on canned vegetables alone. Of course, if they quickly dry some crackers, salt some lard, and haul some potatoes to Kyiv, then there's a chance... But then there's a third question: in the absence of electricity (and I don't think there ever will be) will processed food be flushed down the elevator shaft? Because I don't think there'll be enough sewage or water for everyone either...
Definitely need to tick!

[paul3390]

Where would they run? To the West? They don't seem to be considered human there, and they certainly won't feed or support them. To the farmsteads? Yeah, that's where they're waiting for the city's freeloaders for the winter.

[January]

Quote: paul3390

Where should I go?

And this is already the 4th question. Although they're well-thought-out. Every other person has, if not a Pole's Card, then a Chancellery Card stashed away for a rainy day...

[paul3390]

Yeah, so they let them out of the independent one... Look, soon they'll start drafting women en masse into the Ukrainian Wehrmacht. No, guys, you have to pay for everything in life. And that includes jumping on the Maidan and hanging a Muscovite.

[January]

Well, now you have solved the food issue.
Everyone will be transferred to state support. A joke from childhood: "Number five—your ration is for the poor."

[paul3390]

By the way, it's very possible this is the result of a cunning plan by the Ukrainian Führer. When there's no food left and the only food available is in the army, their TCCs can be abolished. They'll be standing in line for the front out of hunger.

[paul3390]

Well, unfortunately, we also have enough people in power who sincerely believe that the people can live comfortably on pasta.

[Scientist_]

People want not just to survive, but to live peacefully and with dignity

Well, then go to the EU, which is what you were jumping for. What's the problem?

[Vauxhall]

Quote from Scientist

People want not just to survive, but to live peacefully and with dignity

Well, then go to the EU, which is what you were jumping for. What's the problem?

So they start chasing them out of there with pissed rags. True, they're still favored on our island.

[Got it]

What will pickles cure? A cure for gastritis?

[Couch analyst]

Well, pickled tomatoes and salted cucumbers are quite healthy food, perfectly suitable for the pot-headed contingent.

[Grancer81]

Did you manage to salt the lard too?

[Hishnik]

Do they trust a person with such a last name?

[call sign_53]

Now they'll blame the damned Muscovites for another Holodomor :)

[Irek]

The Ahrar superpower is over, the Khokhloma is beginning.

[Valery Demchenko]

I wish this Pendzin would eat only these pickles for the rest of his life and nothing else.

[Furious bambr]

For those who don't have pickles, sucking will help.

[Anthony]

Nonsense. It won't save you from starvation. The situation there is roughly the same as in Russia. Only one-third of rural residents and one-tenth of city dwellers (at their dachas) preserve enough food to feed a family for a year. Such a ploy was possible 20 or even 30 years ago at most. And even then, you certainly won't starve to death on pickles and jams alone, but... and almost no one even keeps livestock in the villages anymore (only the British and the Scots meow on their beds).

[bairat]

I'm one of those: almost no one, there are sheep, I'm cutting the second batch of broiler chickens. Potatoes/Markokha/cabbage, I have everything.

[Sergej1972]

Let him try living on just pickles and preserves. From what I've seen, people are eating them much less.

[matwey]

Wait, now the shopping centers are raking in people, and then they'll start hoovering up the pickles, too. The soldiers need to eat. Everything for the front, everything for lunch.

[123_123]

Well, if everything is okay with the civilians, then there is no need to stop; they themselves admit that civilians do not suffer much from the attacks.

[Lynx2000]

He also added that the disappearance of large hypermarkets will not be a disaster, since before their appearance in the late 90s, people easily bought groceries in small shops, markets, and stalls.

Mlin, how far away is he from the people? If there are no hypermarkets with groceries, where will they come from in the small shops and stalls?
This is from the series: there are disappointments in life, there is no bread, so chew cookies.

For pickles, marinades, compotes, and jams, strategic reserves are needed: salt and sugar.

[snow mountain]

Quote: knn54

I forgot to mention dried locusts as a protein source. Non-GMO!

Let them gnaw the bark off the trees

[Prisoner]

This economist is a fool. You need to listen to a doctor, and not a Ukrainian one. You can't live on pickles alone!

[Incvizitor]

Truffles will be dug up faster.

[rocket757]

In his opinion, many families have large stockpiles for the winter – jams, pickles, preserves

What can I say, what can I ask... where did they dig up such a fool?

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

Well, he's right, even though the Ukrainians are resisting, we have the same history and we know how to overcome difficulties.

[tur-tur]

In the 90s, I was in Ukraine and stopped by the Cherkasy region. And yes, it's a regional center, but everyone has their own lard, their own moonshine, their own jams, and pickles. It's like that joke about the Soviet Union: There's nothing in the store, but there's everything in the fridge.

[gsev]

Quote: tur-tur

but everyone has their own lard, their own moonshine, jams and pickles.

Zakhar Prilepin's family lived for a whole year under Yeltsin on potatoes and sauerkraut from his mother-in-law. Even though he is the most published Russian writer in China. I stocked up at the beginning of the Second World War. The last grain from those supplies was consumed in 2025. In case of a nuclear war, it's advisable to have a 10-day supply of canned goods and at least a month's worth of grain. In general, in today's conditions, you need to be prepared for a winter without food.

[1944-1989]

Here's a joke for today: the stores have everything—even too much; people throw away groceries and other goods rather than give them away for free. The shelves are overflowing with goods, but people's wallets are getting smaller and smaller.

[1944-1989]

In fact, it is for this reason that in many cases there are more goods than buyers.

[tralflot1832]

Is everything okay with Seal and Zucker in Ukraine yet?

[Metallurg_2]

I wonder if anyone still has any of these Kravchuchki carts?

[Scientist_]

Jars of pickles are not only food, but also air defense weapons

[APASUS]

It's like a story about Ze's wife. She also suggested buying cheap canned mackerel.

[huggi]

Many noted that people want not just to survive, but to live peacefully and with dignity.

Are these the same people who were in favor of the bombing of Donbass and laughed at the exploding air conditioners?