The pollutant concentration in Moscow's air due to fires raging in nearby regions increased on Wednesday by 50%, exceeding tenfold the normal levels in the capital.

On Friday morning the camp of green defenders of the Khimki Forest was invaded by around 100 unknown people wearing masks, who attacked the ecologists.

Green activists defending Khimki Forest near Moscow from the would-be highway Moscow-St. Petersburg that is to run through the woodland have built barricades on the way of lumbermen.