Winter option in Siberia during Christmas

The mountain resort of Sheregesh in Russia’s Kemerovo region wants to be the country’s top winter destination this year. — 123rf.com

A Siberian ski resort is aiming to replace the Alps as Russians’ preferred winter holiday destination this season as travel to many countries remains forbidden.

The Sheregesh ski resort, located in the Kemerovo region some 3,225km east of Moscow, kicked off its season recently, with officials making face masks mandatory on all ski lifts.