As one area continues to fight blaze, communities in tragedy-hit Khakassia show that human spirit and togetherness can prevail.

Bear and goats among drowned animals at two zoos after typhoon and heavy rain hits Russian Far East.

Scientist warns of 'environmental disaster' due to 'irreversible' pollution in world's deepest and oldest lake.

Tigre de Cristal under fire for 'abusing' rare big cat to promote gambling revolution.

Wildfires rage around Lake Baikal with 5,000-plus emergency workers deployed.

Kate Balkitskaya enjoys Black Russian cocktails in Siberian 'capital' Novosibirsk.

Up to 500 mother bears a year give birth on remote Wrangel island, also the last place to see woolly mammoths.

As the world prepares to herald in the arrival of 2015, we look back at the winter celebrations of the Soviet yesteryear.

Air France Boeing 777 with 282 on board suffered technical failure, then the rescue aircraft sent from Paris was also grounded.

Law enforcement officers sought to 'force confessions from students' in case of US citizen Colin Madsen, found dead in Buryatia.