Free Republic

The winter is harsh even by Russian standards The record low temperatures in Russia over the last few days are continuing to bite as government services struggle to fix breakdowns at heating facilities. Some 25,000 people in north-western Russia are still struggling without heating, as temperatures dropped to -45C and old or overused heating systems broke down in the extreme conditions. The Emergency Situations Ministry said more than 1,000 employees were working on restoring heat to all affected regions, but officials complained about the lack of cash to carry out the major repair work needed. There are also reports that...