In separate case, members of a 'bird mafia' illegally snaring and exporting Red Book hawks and falcons to Middle East were detained in Buryatia.

Huge area of the Sea of Okhotsk will be recognised as part of Russia's continental shelf.

Lost and alone on the Pacific coast, the seals would die without the help of a unique seal sanctuary.

Stunning statue with 'encrypted codes' is 11,000 years old, even more ancient than previously believed.

Impressive official events but also emotional marches by people carrying portraits of loved ones who served in WW2.

99 year old sailing ship successfully passes the most challenging part of its Arctic odyssey…. and there is NO ice.

Growing number of brave Siberians strip off for the winter, with debate raging about the benefits of taking to the snow and ice naked.

Gazprom, Transneft, RusHydro, Alrosa and Rosneft all on a list for shift from Moscow to boost the Far East economy.

Vineyards will flourish as winters become almost 10C milder heralding a large population influx, says new scientific prediction.