Aged 4, she battled through chest-deep snow in minus 24 C to plead with closest neighbours to help her blind grandfather.
From the Pacific in the east, to the Urals in the west, hardy Russians display their religious feelings - and bravery.
Today it's +32C in Yakutsk, the world’s coldest city, and locals escape heatwave like true Siberians - by chilling on ice.
As western Europe chills in unusually harsh weather, which it blames on Russia (of course!), here’s how we cope with the deep freeze.
Destruction of trees by flames could see Batagai Depression ‘rapidly enlarge’ while remote local settlements also threatened.
Experts say Kuzya, Borya and Ilona have adapted to life in the wild and satellite data shows they are happily roaming about their new habitats.
Swimming 1km, in the middle of the winter, in Siberia, at water temperature of zero Celsius and air temperature below -30C.
Thermometers go above zero in places where the winter should be 20 or 30 degrees colder.
Seasonal greetings to all parts of the world marking Christmas Day on 25 December, even though we have to wait a little longer!