Students in the Russian Arctic are enduring freezing weather to attend school, as temperatures hover just 2 degrees above the threshold to cancel class.
Oymyakon in Russia’s northeastern Sakha republic has been nicknamed the “Cold Pole” for being one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on Earth.
Thermometers there showed minus 50 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, the local website news.ykt.ru reported. Meanwhile, students are expected to attend class until temperatures reach minus 52 C.
"It was minus 50 this morning, all children are studying," the Oymyakon administration told the news site.
A video from another Sakha village, widely shared on social media this week, showed children being whipped by freezing winds on their way home from school in temperatures around minus 30 C.
In Moscow, temperatures on Thursday hovered around a balmy minus 3 degrees C.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
