Oldest torchbearer of any Olympic relay, he had lost his father in the Siege of Leningrad.
At least eight black bears killed in terrorised Luchegorsk as starving wild animals roam streets and go on the attack.
Vet clinics inundated with cases of cats and dogs suffering health problems and rashes in 'Dirty 30' Siberian city.
A Soviet-era hotel which has undergone substantial and welcome renovation and now offers good value for money 3* facilities for its guests.
Very good location on Lenina street makes it convenient for most amenities in the city centre.
With apartments, business deluxe, business single, business double and comfort class accommodation, it aims to meet most tastes.
Investigators find one billion roubles in currency and expensive jewellery, including a diamond-encrusted pen, as official faces corruption charge.
Teenager is set on fire before diving five floors into a pile of snow.
Pyramid is literally frozen in time, captured on camera by Vladimir Prokofiev.
A nenets granny walks into the mobile shop, where I'm getting a local sim, puts a wrinkled hand on the counter and says ‘I need an iPhone'.
This is a small 3* hotel compared with some of Novosibirsk's cavernous options, with 33 rooms - studios, luxury rooms and apartments available as well as standard singles and doubles - aimed mainly at the business traveller.
The hotel offers conference hall, sitting 120 people.
There is a round-the-clock grill bar and several saunas with billiards. All rooms are air-conditioned, with television and minibars.