Orisha Sound expects economic fallout from Russia-Ukraine conflict

Reggae duo Orisha Sound, who live in St Petersburg, Russia, believe that there could be a food shortage and a hike in gas and oil prices stemming from the conflict with Ukraine.

Speaking with THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday, member Shel-K also said that there are inflation fears.

Stocks plunged globally and oil prices surged on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched military action in Ukraine, prompting Washington D.C. in the US and Europe to vow harsher sanctions on Moscow.

"The American government and Western Europe control the president of Ukraine and they tell him what to do. People from all over Jamaica have been reaching out to ask if we are okay but I tell them that we are good. But they need to look out for a rise in gas prices and other things. Anything that happens in Russia will affect Jamaica right now because the island's gas comes from Russia. America buys gas from Russia as well. It is not just about Ukraine and Russia anymore, the entire place is under tension now," he said.

He said it is business as usual in St Petersburg, where he resides with his wife Orisha and operates a business. Shel-K opined that despite popular belief, Russia is actually the peacemaker.

"Russia does not want any war. There are tensions in some area of Ukraine for eight years now. Russia send in some peacekeeping troops to actually make sure that they don't kill off the people in those areas," he said.

"It is a peacekeeping troop and not a 'take over the country' troop. Russia does not want to take over Ukraine. Ukraine people can do what they want to do. Russia is not the enemy. It is about the pressure from the West who is trying to push Ukraine into NATO," he said.

Early Thursday morning, Russia launched a major assault on Ukraine, firing missiles on cities and military targets. The invasion by land, air and sea began after a pre-dawn TV address, where Putin demanded that Ukraine's military lay down its arms. Initial reports of casualties included Ukrainian civilians and soldiers and Russian troops.