Snow, at last. After a summer that didn't deserve the name, Russian weather skipped fall and decided to head straight for winter.
Using the #первыйснег (first snow) hashtag, Russian Instagrammers shared pictures on Tuesday of how their home towns look in the last gasps of summer. And even if the calendar says August, these images suggest something entirely different.
“Fall got lost along its way and winter came to us,“ one Instagram user from Neryungri in Russia's Sakha Republic wrote alongside a window view of buildings, cars and trees covered in white. Some commenters, already in festive spirits, wished her a happy New Year.
Meanwhile, in Udachny, north-west of Yakutsk, the freshly fallen snow was an excuse for some to dig out their winter jackets and strike a pose.
But not everyone on social media was ready to settle into full winter mode just yet. This man, in the city of Aldan, opted to document the first snow wearing a t-shirt – with not a single goosebump in sight.
Even the Siberian city of Norilsk - famous for its high levels of pollution – managed to produce a round of fresh and reasonably white snow.
And in Ekimchan in the Amur region, one Instagrammer took a pragmatic approach to the arrival of winter weather during the summer months: "Happy first snow, folks,“ she wrote alongside her video. "We'll be harvesting those potatoes from underneath the snow.“
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.