Huge search underway for girl who vanished walking home 100 metres from gym class

Relatives and neighbours in Ussuriysk in Primorsky region in the Russian Far East are assisting the search. Her mother Maria Lutsishina came to collect her from her class at 7.30pm on 19 February but coach Valeri Grigorievich had allowed the children to finish ten minutes early because they were tired. 

Police think Nastya set off herself to walk home, a distance of 100 metres, probably hoping to meet her mother on the way. 

But she vanished. 

Her parents immediately turned to police for help. Currently 340 police were deployed in the hunt, assisted by 300 volunteers from the local community. 

Police dogs are also being used in a bid to track her trail.

She was wearing a distinctive red winter coat, red boots and pink hat. 

'She had absolutely no reason to run away from home. She was a docile child, she loved her parents', said he mother Maria. 

Her uncle Pavel Lutsishin said: 'We are shocked with all this. I am asking all those who might have seen her, please to go to police. I am taking part in searches with volunteers but we can't even suppose where she has gone. 

'She could not do it herself. She would never go away from home without asking her parents'.

Police have launched a criminal investigation.