2010: Europe & Putin laugh about getting heat from firewood | 2021:…

In 2010, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a joke about Germany's apparent disdain for the nuclear power and gas industries, proposing that the only alternative they'd have left for heating their homes is firewood. Fast forward to 2021, and the joke may have turned into an unfortunate prophecy.

Germany’s Civil Protection Office has unveiled a training video to show citizens on what they can do in the event of heat and light outages in their homes. The video goes on to show a step-by-step guide to the assembly of a homemade stove, and also recommends sealing the windows with foil to better contain the heat.

The video's release coincides with an unprecedented European gas crisis. Skyrocketing prices for natural gas have reached a level of $1,200 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, which is higher than the peak price during the 2008 financial crisis.