A man sing songs by Vladimir Vysotsky as hundreds of Russians gather, despite freezing temperatures of -15C, at the grave of the legendary bard singer, poet and actor Vysotsky on his birthday. Vysotsky, an alcoholic and heroin addict who died in 1980 aged 42 of a heart attack, is best known for his songs of Soviet prison and military life, and his acting on stage and screen. Much of his work was officially unpublished during his lifetime, and he remains a potent anti-authoritarian symbol of protest to Russians of all ages even today.

Some 70,000 Muscovites celebrate the Orthodox Epiphany holiday by diving into the city’s frozen lakes and rivers. Russian priests bless the waters and the faithful believe that by immersing themselves in the holy water they will wash away their sins for the year.

Two women peer out from inside a prison cell made of ice in Moroz City, or Frost City, an ice town constructed in Moscow’s Sokolniki Park by a team of architects and ice sculptors. As well as ice sculptures the temporary town features a disco, hotel, fitness centre, post office and prison.

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka – Father Frost and the Snow Princess – stand in front of Red Square in pouring rain on Orthodox Christmas Day. Record high winter temperatures have left the Russian capital almost devoid of snow during the lengthy New Year holidays, and for the first time in living memory here has been no white Christmas in Moscow.

A woman pulls a child along on a rubber beach ring as Muscovites walk in Kolomenskoe Park on New Year’s Day after a heavy overnight snowfall .