Russia’s economy is slowing after nearly four years of war in Ukraine, and its citizens are feeling the pinch.

Russians have been facing rising utility bills, petrol costs and an increase in overall prices of 2.1% since the start of the year, in part as a result of an increase in VAT.

With the central bank forecasting annual inflation of up to 5.5% this year, people are also complaining at the price of staple foods, most notably, cucumbers.

A favourite in Russian salads and meals, cucumber has doubled in price since December to reach an average of just over 300 roubles (£2.90) per kilogram, with social media flooded with images of them sometimes being sold for triple that.

With prices now exceeding those of imported fruit like bananas, some supermarkets in Siberia are limiting the quantity that any one shopper can buy. 

One of Russia’s best-selling newspapers has even given its readers seeds to grow their own at home.

Producers have reassured consumers that cucumber prices are likely to ease next month when the weather gets warmer. 

Yevgeny Popov, a lawmaker from the United Russia ruling party, tried to play down the problem, saying cucumber prices would fall and Russia was completely self-sufficient in the product.