MOSCOW, an early cold spell hitting Moscow dropped temperatures sharply below freezing point on Tuesday night, reaching minus 10C (14F) on Wednesday morning. Later the temperature inched back up to freezing point, but an icy wind and the snow swept through Moscow.

Due to the capital's freezing cold weather a total of 129 people have died over the last few weeks. Sadly enough the victims of the freezing cold weather are usually the homeless who sometimes fall asleep at the roadside after drinking large amounts of alcohol.