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Village of Novokuryanovo, is it really in Moscow?

The village of Novokuryanovo is located near the Yuzhnoye Butovo district of Moscow at the metro station Buninskaya Alley. It can be accessed by a single road—that’s not always cleared—and only by car or on foot.
By Alexey Kulikov, special to RBTH
There is a myth that all the Muscovites live comfortably in heated houses with running water and the central heating. Indeed, some of their houses don’t even have the sewerage. And every winter becomes for them a struggle for survival.
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Alexey Kulikov

There is a myth that all the Muscovites live comfortably in heated houses with running water and the central heating. Indeed, some of their houses don’t even have the sewerage. And every winter becomes for them a struggle for survival.
The village of Novokuryanovo is located near the Yuzhnoye Butovo district of Moscow at the metro station Buninskaya Alley. It can be accessed by a single road—that’s not always cleared — and only by car of on foot. Public transportation doesn’t pass this way.

Alexey Kulikov

The village of Novokuryanovo is located near the Yuzhnoye Butovo district of Moscow at the metro station Buninskaya Alley. It can be accessed by a single road—that’s not always cleared — and only by car of on foot. Public transportation doesn’t pass this way.
The nearest shop is located several kilometers away. The telephone booth was closed long ago. Water is available in pumps, gas is a dream, and residents burn coal and firewood in stoves which unfortunately often leads to houses burning down.

Alexey Kulikov

The nearest shop is located several kilometers away. The telephone booth was closed long ago. Water is available in pumps, gas is a dream, and residents burn coal and firewood in stoves which unfortunately often leads to houses burning down.
It was hard to speak to local residents. They are wary of strangers here. Neither documents nor press badges help, but we still managed to chat with some locals.

Alexey Kulikov

It was hard to speak to local residents. They are wary of strangers here. Neither documents nor press badges help, but we still managed to chat with some locals.
This is Nikolay. He lives with his brother and his brother’s wife. It’s extremely cold in their house.

Alexey Kulikov

This is Nikolay. He lives with his brother and his brother’s wife. It’s extremely cold in their house.
They burn coal and firewood in the oven to stay warm. But the oven doesn’t always help.

Alexey Kulikov

They burn coal and firewood in the oven to stay warm. But the oven doesn’t always help.
This is Margarita Kuzminichna. She worked as a primary school teacher. At 86 years old, she still has to walk to fetch water from a pump. But she doesn’t mind. She lives with her son and they are gradually remodeling. She says living in the village is better than in the city!

Alexey Kulikov

This is Margarita Kuzminichna. She worked as a primary school teacher. At 86 years old, she still has to walk to fetch water from a pump. But she doesn’t mind. She lives with her son and they are gradually remodeling. She says living in the village is better than in the city!
Here is another house we were allowed into.

Alexey Kulikov

Here is another house we were allowed into.
Cats greet you at the entrance.

Alexey Kulikov

Cats greet you at the entrance.
Two solitary senior citizens reside here: Lidia Vasilievna and Yuri Ivanovich.

Alexey Kulikov

Two solitary senior citizens reside here: Lidia Vasilievna and Yuri Ivanovich.
The house is in terrible condition. At least they were able to save up money to redo their roof. Before that, it always leaked.

Alexey Kulikov

The house is in terrible condition. At least they were able to save up money to redo their roof. Before that, it always leaked.
The walls stand at different angles. Shreds of wallpaper hang everywhere.

Alexey Kulikov

The walls stand at different angles. Shreds of wallpaper hang everywhere.
Lidia Vasilievna is almost completely blind, so it falls to her husband to do the household chores. They also burn coal in their oven. This year, they were lucky enough to have small pieces of coal. Otherwise, they’d have to break it down.

Alexey Kulikov

Lidia Vasilievna is almost completely blind, so it falls to her husband to do the household chores. They also burn coal in their oven. This year, they were lucky enough to have small pieces of coal. Otherwise, they’d have to break it down.
The police don’t patrol here, but arrivals here have nothing to fear. Many people rent their homes to illegal immigrants. Some houses are simply abandoned. Their owners have either died or moved. To be fair, there are several respectable looking buildings in this village, but they are few and far between...

Alexey Kulikov

The police don’t patrol here, but arrivals here have nothing to fear. Many people rent their homes to illegal immigrants. Some houses are simply abandoned. Their owners have either died or moved. To be fair, there are several respectable looking buildings in this village, but they are few and far between...
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
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February 27, 2014
Tags: Moscow, society

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