If you want to get an idea of ​​the fuel crisis affecting Russia, all you need to do is spend a day driving around Moscow. At almost every gas station we passed there were lines of cars and trucks. Some lines were long, others short; some static, others moving constantly.

If there was no line, it meant that the garage had completely run out of fuel and was closed.

Remember: this is Moscow, the rich and populous capital that draws much of Russia’s vast resources. Even in this case, the authorities cannot guarantee that there will be enough gasoline and diesel to keep Muscovites on the roads.

However, in the queues, the atmosphere was more one of frustration than anger. Yekaterina told us that she was “not happy” and that there was “panic because everyone thinks there will be no oil.” But that’s okay, he said, “we just have to reorganize the distribution of oil.”

According to Elmar, the situation was “very bad” and he complained that prices were rising because fuel stocks were running out. “You’re wasting hours to fill up,” he said. “Right now I’m planning a trip to Dagestan, but I don’t know if I should drive there or not because there are a lot of problems with gasoline.”

I asked him who the culprit was. “In our country you can’t say who is to blame and who is to blame,” he said with a knowing smile.

In Russia, criticizing the president, or even the Kremlin, is not something most feel they can do in public.

Valery said it was strange to have to wait in line in a country that extracts so much oil. He blamed Russian unpreparedness as much as Ukrainian missiles. “I have no desire to get used to queues,” he said. “I hope the situation changes soon and does not continue.”

So for many across Russia the war is coming ever closer to home.

President Vladimir Putin has worked hard to insulate most people from the consequences of what he calls his five-year-old special military operation. On the streets of Moscow there are few signs of war, just a few posters about heroic soldiers.