Putin orders urgent measures to protect Russians from abnormal frost
MOSCOW. Feb 9 (Interfax) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has ordered his government to take urgent measures to protect Russia's population from the current abnormally cold weather.
Ministers, regional governors and other officials "must be in their offices and work," Putin said during a conference call on Thursday. "Judging by forecasts, frost won't subside any time soon."
Putin also instructed utility, rescue and health services to keep the situation under control and ordered extra inspections of vital economic and social facilities, paying special attention to schools, kindergartens, and central heating and water supply systems.
He asked regional governors to think what is needed to repair buildings and infrastructural facilities damaged by the cold.