Wheezing your way through the Moscow day
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A thick blanket of smog has left Muscovites gasping for air while concerns are being raised about the safety of Russia's nuclear installations. The wildfires raging through Russia have not reached the capital itself but fires burning on the outskirts are making city life a misery.
According to some experts, spending the day inhaling the Moscow air is the equivalent of smoking several packets of cigarettes. But according to Vladimir Stepanov, the head of the emergency ministry crisis centre: "The situation is stable."
However, despite Mr Stepanov's calming words the death toll has now reached 50 throughout Russia, seven regions have been placed under a state of emergency and up to 2,000 homes have been destroyed by the fires.
The Bryansk region, which was affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster over 20 years ago, is also under threat, as it is feared the heat from the fires may release harmful radioactive particles into the atmosphere
The thick Moscow smog has also disrupted air traffic at Moscow's two international airports - Domodedovo and Vnukova.
Russians are covering their faces with masks and the situation is unlikely to change as record temperatures are set to continue.
