Residents of Ulan-Ude in Russia’s Far East republic of Buryatia were taken by surprise to learn that local authorities plan to construct a new prison for 3,000 inmates near their homes. “We were not informed about this terrible news that they plan to build a mega-prison, a special regime zone,” one local resident said in a group video appeal to officials. “I really don't know who could decide to settle criminals right in the regional capital."
Wildfires in Siberia this spring are harbingers of yet another record-breaking fire season, while the Russian government pours resources into war in Ukraine.
Dramatic video depicted the scene on Wednesday as U.S. and Russian officials met on a runway in Turkey to conduct the prisoner swap between Reed, 30, and pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko.