RIA Novosti

WWF Names Key to Better Ecology in Russia

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:22:00 GMT

Russia could completely eliminate the need for expensive and environmentally risky offshore drilling in the Arctic if it only improved the energy efficiency of its housing, WWF experts said at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday.

Rare Black Swan Killed in Kaliningrad Zoo

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:25:00 GMT

A rare black Australian swan was beaten to death in a zoo in Kaliningrad, Russia’s exclave on the Baltic Sea, the zoo’s deputy director said on Thursday.

Tymoshenko’s Tigress Gives Birth to 4 Cubs

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

Ukrainian former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s white tigress Tigryulya on Monday gave birth to four cubs in a private Simferopol zoo, facility’s owner Oleh Zubkov said.

Bashneft Halts Work at Trebs Over Oil Spill

Sat, 05 May 2012 10:08:00 GMT

Russian mid-sized oil firm Bashneft has halted work at the Trebs oilfield in the Nenets Autonomous Area in the Russian Arctic to investigate a recent oil spill at the site, the regional administration said on Saturday.

Some 3,000 Hectares of Forests on Fire in Siberia

Thu, 03 May 2012 03:46:00 GMT

Over 3,000 hectares of forests are on fire in Siberia, the Emergencies Ministry’s regional center reported on Thursday.

Greens Seek Follow-Up to Medvedev Eco-Agenda

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:02:00 GMT

Russian environmental activists have praised Russia's eco-policy recently approved by President Dmitry Medvedev but said they were expecting the implementation of the plans outlined in the document.

Moscow Sets Spring Weather Record

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:49:00 GMT

The spring weather broke a 26-year record in Moscow on April 28, hitting 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), Internet portal Meteonovosti said.

Central Russia Flood Damage Estimated at $17 mln

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:30:00 GMT

A strong spring flood has caused damage to the road system of Russia’s Volga republic of Mordovia estimated at 500 million rubles ($17 million), Russia’s Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin said on Thursday.

Green Clouds Over Moscow Explained

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:16:00 GMT

Eerie green clouds that floated over the Russian capital on Thursday, prompting wild online rumors, were colored by pollen released by the explosive blooming of birch trees in the capital, emergency officials said.

Award Created in Russia for Protecting Forest from State

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:39:00 GMT

Environment champion Yevgenia Chirikova set up a reward of 1 million rubles ($34,000) for anyone who wins a court battle to protect three Moscow region forests in danger of partial demolition.

Escaped Bear Killed in Latvia

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:12:00 GMT

A bear that ran away from a wildlife sanctuary in northeastern Latvia had to be killed because it was impossible to return it to its enclosure in the Ligatne Nature Trails preserve, local media reported.

Ukraine Wants to ‘Revitalize’ Chernobyl Area

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:36:00 GMT

Ukraine is currently working on an expanded governmental program aimed at sprucing up the contaminated territories adjacent to the crippled Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Monday.

Latvian Police Search for Escaped Bear

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:46:00 GMT

Latvian police are searching for a bear that ran away from a wildlife sanctuary in Latvia’s northeastern Vidzeme region on Sunday evening, local police said.

Oil Spill Contained at Russia’s Trebs Arctic Field

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:48:00 GMT

An incident that has led to oil spill has occurred on April 20 at Russia’s Arctic Trebs oil field, the regional Emergencies Ministry said on Sunday.

Wildfires Ravage Far Eastern Villages

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:16:00 GMT

The area covered by wildfires in Russia, mostly in Siberia and the Far East, stood at 8,600 hectares, with dozens of houses destroyed in a village in the Amur region on Friday, emergency officials said.

TNK-BP Share Prices Plunge on News of Damages Action

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:25:00 GMT

Share prices in the Russian-British oil joint venture accelerated their fall on Thursday afternoon on news that Russia’s environmental watchdog intended to take legal action to claim damages from the company for oil spills in the Siberian Rivers.

Thriving Wolf Population Threatens Yakutia Livestock

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:25:00 GMT

The growing population of gray wolves in Russia’s northern republic of Yakutia has killed more than 1,700 domestic reindeer since the beginning of the year, a spokesman for the republic’s veterinary department said on Thursday.

Russia May Lift Egypt Potato Ban

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:34:00 GMT

Russia may lift its ban on Egyptian potato imports if Russian experts are allowed to check their safety before they are supplied to the domestic market, food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Wednesday.

Chile Rocked by 6.5 Quake - No Casualties

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:26:00 GMT

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake rocked central Chile 122 kilometers (about 75 miles) from the country's capital Santiago on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Antarctic Penguins Counted in Satellite Census

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:58:00 GMT

A satellite census program revealed that the population of emperor penguin in Antarctic was twice as much as earlier estimates, an article in the PLoS ONE magazine said.

Dinosaur Eggs Discovered in Chechnya

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:12:00 GMT

Participants of a geographic expedition in Russia’s North Caucasus Chechen Republic have uncovered a batch of alleged dinosaur egg fossils, the Vesti Respubliki online daily said on Friday.

Thousands of Homes Flooded across Russia

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:26:00 GMT

Spring floods have submerged 2,477 homes in Russia, up from 903 in the past 24 hours, the Emergencies Ministry said on Thursday.

Amur Leopard National Park Opens in Far East

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:04:00 GMT

A 261,000-acre national park in Russia's Far East created to protect Amur leopards began operating this week, presidential chief of staff Sergei Ivanov said.

Putin Tells Governors to Prioritize Environment

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:17:00 GMT

Russian Prime Minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin told a meeting of governors on Tuesday to give higher priority to environmental protection and conservation.

Govt Must Carry Through Privatization Plan – Medvedev

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:49:00 GMT

Outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev urged the government on Tuesday to take energetic efforts to carry through its privatization plan in full.