Russian coal-mining town 'paints snow white to hide evidence of pollution'

'I apologise to the townspeople to whom this incident spoiled the New Year mood,' official says

Russian authorities reportedly slapped white paint onto snow to hide evidence of pollution in a coal-mining town in Siberia.

Footage shared by Russian media shows a woman whose hands become coated in what appears to be paint after she brushes against a bank of snow in Mysky, Kemerovo.

“You can see the stains... it even sticks,” she says, according to The Moscow Times.

Local media reported white snow was in short supply around the town due to the number of polluting coal mines in the region.

On Wednesday, a town official apologised to residents for the incident.

“I will refrain from assessing the professional qualities of the workers, because it is quite obvious,” Dmitry Ivanov said in a statement.

“I gave the command to immediately clean ... the paint and put it in order,” he added.

“I apologise to the townspeople to whom this incident spoiled the New Year mood.”