UrBC, Yekaterinburg, January 18, 2017. Ural Vagon Zavod Corporation was given state guarantees (25.7bn RUR) to help refinance the company’s head plant’s current debts as well as those of its member enterprises ChTZ Uraltrac and Uraltransmash, the corporation’s press service reports. The state guarantee agreements were signed on December 30, 2016; it took the parties involved eight months to coordinate all the technicalities. The state guarantees were provided in part as security for the loans issued by Gazprombank to help ChTZ Uraltrac and Uraltransmash pay off their principal debt to Alfa

UrBC, Yekaterinburg, January 18, 2017. EVRAZ Holding’s Kachkanar Ore Mining & Processing Enterprise (KGOK) keeps upgrading the facilities and equipment in use at its Severny mine, EVRAZ Holding Ural’s press office reports. A new, 130-ton self-dumping truck was introduced at the mine in early January. This is the 30th vehicle the company bought as part of converting the mine to a new ore production and transportation scheme. ‘Switching the mine to a new, combined scheme is one of the ways to make it more productive. In addition to 130-ton BelAZ trucks, the company also purchased a number

UrBC, Yekaterinburg, January 18, 2017. Sinara Group’s Sinara Development recently commissioned Aquarelle, an apartment building in Volgograd’s Krasnooktyabrsky District, the Group’s PR Center reports. The commissioning permit was issued on December 29, 2016; the owners are currently being handed over the keys to their new homes. ‘The sixteen-story apartment building at 13 Novoremeslennaya St has 286 apartments in its two sections (0ver 14,000 m2 all in all). The choice location provides a great view of urban landscapes, including that of Mamayev Kurgan. There are schools, kindergartens,

UrBC, Yekaterinburg, January 18, 2017. A Communion service, with Great Blessing of the Waters, will take place at Akademicheskiy District’s parish church in commemoration of the Baptism of the Lord, RSG-Akademicheskoye’s press service reports. Ice bathing opportunities will be provided for the believers, with a baptismal font and heated changing cabins installed next to the church. ‘Great Blessing of the Waters takes place the day before the Baptism of the Lord and on Epiphany Day itself. Orthodox Christians then keep the holy water at home throughout the year, using it sparingly and with

UrBC, Yekaterinburg, January 18, 2017. Consumer prices rose by 5.8% in Sverdlovsk Region in December 2016 against one year earlier; in December 2015, the increase was 14% against December 2014, Sverdlovskstat reports. Food items (excluding alcohol) grew 4.7% more expensive (the increase was 17.2% in December 2015), alcohol drinks grew 7.9% more expensive (9% in December 2015). The price of milk and dairy products went up by 10.1% on average, that of pasta, cheese, and bread and pastry by 6.6%, 6.2%, and 5.2%, respectively. Grains and pulses grew 10.9% more expensive on average. The price