Thunderstorm hits as Russian authorities bulldoze 16 tons of nectarines

Russia’s battle with banned European food products continues. Officials have released a video showing the destruction of 16 tons of nectarines at night during a thunderstorm. The fruit was smashed by a bulldozer and dumped into a landfill. The operation took place just outside of St. Petersburg.

• An embargo banning food imports from the EU, Norway, the US, Australia, and Canada is in place in Russia. In late July, Vladimir Putin ordered the complete destruction of any banned products found on Russian territory. Since August 6, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance has been bulldozing and burning illicit fruits and cheeses from the EU.
• For more on Putin’s food destruction decree, see At the home front in the food war: Russia is now destroying banned Western food products on sight
• For an overview of the methods and tactics of food destruction in Russia, see *‘They eat, clean their faces, and lie to TV cameras’: Reports from the first two days of Russia’s food-destruction campaign*