The cold winter exposes Russia's crumbling infrastructure. The president, who receives requests for help from across the country, has already ordered three men to be arrested. They will be held responsible for the failure of the heaters.
It's cold in Russia. Colder than it has been in over 40 years. For all of Russia, meteorologists report unusually cold January, on average up to 15 degrees colder than normal for this time of year. In Moscow and the Moscow region, it is currently between minus 20 and 30 degrees.
This puts the infrastructure on the verge of functioning, and its deterioration is evident in almost ten regions of the country: water pipes burst, heaters remain cold and electricity runs out.
Now, President Vladimir Putin, who receives requests for help from across the country, has ordered the arrest of three men. They are said to be responsible for the fact that apartments south of Moscow remain freezing. A heating plant in the city of Klimowsk, about 50 kilometers south of the Russian capital, failed. This heating plant belongs to a private ammunition factory. Both the heating plant manager and the factory boss were arrested. The region's deputy governor was also arrested. He approved the technical inspection of the now faulty heating plant before winter. By the way, the ammunition factory will now be nationalized.
Fire in front of the house
In some apartments nothing works: neither heating nor gas. People stay at home in thick jackets and hats and light fires outside. The stairs are full of layers of ice, volunteers distribute feather beds and bring something hot to eat. Some, where there is heating in the apartment, offer dormitories for those who need it. Schools close, hospitals turn on generators. Requests for help are increasing on social media.
These special stoves are used to heat public spaces in Moscow. You can also cook in it. Portal/Evgenia Novozhenina
The Russian president is dealing with the problem of freezing apartments – of course, in a very public way. The governors of the relevant regions have to report back to him, Putin promises improvements, and the next day state television shows the heaters turning on again. Putin is generally reluctant to deal with “menial” matters, leaving problems with supplies, infrastructure and high prices to his government. He likes to present himself as the great foreign policy expert who saves the country from the evil enemies around him. What are cold heaters?
Presidential elections in March
But in March he wants to be confirmed in the position for the sixth time with great support from the population. He is not well received when the population is trembling and dissatisfied and denouncing the “arbitrary rule”, especially so close to Moscow. It was mainly people in the cities around the capital who froze during the New Year holidays – in Russia they lasted until January 9th.
The problem of dilapidated infrastructure dates back to the Soviet era. Corrosion-affected iron pipes are gradually being replaced by more robust plastic pipes, but very slowly. “It is impossible to renew everything in two decades,” says the Kremlin itself. The capital is also growing rapidly. New residential areas, shopping centers and stadiums are being built on the outskirts. They are connected to old pipes and electrical networks. They cannot withstand stress at low temperatures and can burst. If electrical devices are turned on to provide heat to homes – especially during the holidays when most people are at home – the electrical grid quickly collapses. (zoe, difficult)