RUSSIA: RUSSIA IS FACING ONE OF THE COLDEST AND SNOWIEST WINTERS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS

Record ID: 588607

  • Title: RUSSIA: RUSSIA IS FACING ONE OF THE COLDEST AND SNOWIEST WINTERS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS
  • Date: 4th January 2002
  • Summary: (W7) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JANUARY 04, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS, PEOPLE SLEDDING DOWN HILL AS IT SNOWS 0.08 2. VARIOUS, CHILDREN SLEDDING AND CLIMBING HILL (2 SHOTS) 0.22 (W7) BATAIKI, RUSSIA (JANUARY 04, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3. WIDE OF BATAIKI VILLAGE 0.27 4. SLV ANATOLI KARASYUV WALKING TO WOODPILE AND CUTTING WOOD 0.47 5. SCU LOGS STORED IN WOODPILE 0.49 6. SLV KARASYUV CARRYING WOOD INTO HOUSE 1.00 7. SCU LOGS BURNING IN STOVE 1.04 8. SLV ZINAIDA KARASYUV CLIMBING UP FROM CELLAR WITH BUCKET OF POTATOES 1.22 9. SCU BUCKET OF POTATOES 1.25 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ZINAIDA KARASYUV, SAYING: "We're going to have to look for wood in the fields. I don't know where we will find it. We don't have enough to hold out for the winter, to heat our home and have light." 1.49 11. SCU OLD MAN HOLDING CIGARETTE 1.54 12. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANATOLI KARASYUV, SAYING: "We've had lots of snow. It's been falling and falling regularly. And the frost? The frost has held up for about a week now." 2.10 13. VARIOUS, ZINAIDA KARASYUV PULLING WATER FROM WELL / KARASYUV WALKING BACK TO HOUSE (4 SHOTS) 2.58 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 19th January 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, BATAIKI, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA51L4Y698YC8BZ9KPKD9XMIIHO
  • Story Text: Russia is facing one of its coldest and snowiest
    winters in the past decade - meaning fun snow sports for some
    but hardship for others.



    Snow continued to fall in the Russian capital for the
    third day straight on Friday (January 4). Many took advantage
    of the snowfall and New Year's holidays to enjoy sledding or
    other activities outside.

    But as the snow fell, temperatures also plunged to -24
    Celsius (minus 11 Fahrenheit) -- the coldest this winter.

    For some, the freeze presents a real problem.

    Anatoli Karasyuv is a pensioner who lives in the small
    town of Bataiki completely off the electricity grid. He chops
    wood each day to heat his house and cook his food. The wood
    also warms his traditional Russian stove, which becomes the
    bed for he and his wife Zinaida each winter night.

    The Karasyuvs receive a small pension and live mostly on
    their own supply of food that they grow in their garden during
    the summer. Potatoes are their main staple, not by choice.

    Supply cars which bring food goods for sell into their village
    up to three times each day in the summer do not make the
    journey during the winter.

    The Karasyuvs know that if the cold continues all winter,
    then they will run out of firewood. But they don't know where
    they will find more wood.

    They've seen many cold winters, but this is one of the
    worst and presents one of the most real dangers to them.

    The couple are one of the uncounted many across rural
    Russia who have fallen through the post-Soviet security net.

    Zinaida Karasyuv says they have several tough months
    before them, though she has little time to worry. Each day she
    must make a couple of journeys over the snowy hills and across
    ice to bring water back into their home.


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