After US warnings about threat of ISIL, Da'esh and al-Qa'ida attacks around Christmas, senator Franz Klintsevich urges tourists to head east.

Through his extraordinary photographs, Sergey Anisimov has done more than most to show real Siberia to the world.

Seasonal greetings from the east of Russia where there are no less than seven different Father Christmas figures to bring joy to children in winter. 

Boris Fyodorov, 37, complains it was 'too warm', and now wants to try in minus 60C.

My only knowledge of Russia came from Hollywood movies, James Bond films in particular - though I was aware that From Russia with Love was made back in 60s. 

100-year-old woman among the hundreds who party the night away on the banks of a Yakutia river as temperatures fall to -43C.