Hope for future of the rare species as census says there could be as many as 540 of them now living in the Far East.
Delegation of 69, including the representatives of 32 private companies, state and municipal structures arrived in the Southern Kurils.
Possible route could see 400km/hour bullet train pass through heart of Siberia and Altai region with stops in major cities.
Is it a case of 'space race sabotage' as suspicion falls on Middle Eastern group with pages blanked out by Arabic writing stating 'Peace Be With You'?
‘Thousands’ perish amid calls for a state of emergency in the region, with fears anthrax vaccine is a cause of death.
Appalling conditions in Alrosa's Mir mine forces end to search on submerged level 310 some 11 days after devastating flood.
The rare predator was caught after weeks of wandering into a village in Russian Far East.
Russian technology is capable of delivering aircraft to land on water and ice and bringing vital links to Siberian communities, Shoigu says.