A Vladimir Putin loyalist is taunting Westerners by live streaming his gas stove burning around the clock.
He claims his gas bill is just £1.25 a month even with up to four rings alight 24/7.
The unnamed Rostov man headlined his Twitch broadcast: “From Russia with love.”
His live stream comes as British and European people face spiralling gas bills leading to bills of many thousands of pounds, leading countries to offer financial compensation to gas users.
And there are fears of rationing across the continent in the cold winter due to Russia’s retaliation for Western sanctions linked to Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
The streamer put a thermometer next to the gas stove, showing 41C.
The man behind the stunt has declined to reveal his name - and a picture on the site is that of a US porn actor.
His profile description reads: “Hello! Welcome to the Russian 24/7 wasting gas. Gas payment is ONLY 1.44€ per month.’
He is seeking to earn money from watchers for his stunt - to buy a new gas stove.
Commenters gave mixed reviews, with one saying: “Needlessly burning resources iwhen there are limited supplies…. is beyond stupid.
“I seldom wish for someone to be removed from existence, but whoever did this is pretty much the epitome of what is holding mankind back.”
A Western follower said: “Funny to see them taunting us while their whole economy got sent back 20 years into the past.”
Europe is preparing to cut winter gas use after Russia failed to reopen a crucial pipeline in early September in an ongoing “weaponisation of energy”.
Germany and France aim to lower heat in public buildings, while Italy plans to close them early and cut street lighting by 40%.
Germans have been told to reduce usage.
The Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany had been shut for three days for “maintenance work”. But Russia’s state energy firm Gazprom now says it has a leak – meaning it could be closed indefinitely.
Energy prices have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine in February and scarce supplies mean families in Europe may be priced out of heating this winter.
The EU has accused Russia of using its gas supplies as an economic weapon against Western nations backing Kyiv.
The European commissioner for the economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said they expect Russia to respect energy contracts but warned: “If weaponisation of energy continues or increases, the EU is ready to react.”
The UK is not reliant on Russia for gas but the pipeline closure may have hit UK customers by pushing up wholesale gas prices.
