PHOENIX – The gunshots and explosions in Ukraine may be a long way off, but their effects are being felt on 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard in North Phoenix.
Yasha from Russiaa take-out delicatessen and grocery store, has been serving the valley since 2001 with customers from Russia and Ukraine.
“It’s a difficult time for everyone, people are very emotional right now,” said owner Nerik Gadaev. “We’re just a small company trying to live our lives.”
With the war between the countries, Gadaev stays out of it, but the impacts on his business are real.
“Everything we do, the majority of the products we get are imported overseas from two places that go to war,” Gadaev said. “We have a lot of Ukrainian products and Russian products.”
Now he fears that as the war drags on his ability to operate will become more difficult.
“We’re on the phone with one of the vendors,” Gadaev said. “They managed to get 14 containers out before the war started, so they already had 14 containers. We’ve been trying to stock imperishable items for at least a few months.”
Beyond the impact of the sanctions, Russian products already in the United States have been targeted by companies and politicians. Many liquor stores are removing Russian vodka in solidarity with Ukraine.
However, Gadaev says his business is part of the Phoenix community.
“We are just trying to survive,” Gadaev said. “That’s it, basically. It’s hard enough as it is with everything else going on today.”
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