Moscow

However local emergency services in some regions cancelled events, saying it was too hazardous for worshippers to cut bathing holes in icy ponds and rivers

Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, the Russian and Iranian presidents, announced closer ties between their nations at an event in Moscow.

Moscow in winter has a special charm. There are plenty of sights and activities to explore, from skating in Europe’s largest ice rink to discovering the palaces and parks of times gone by.