Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday flatly told the country's snow clearance services to stop "moaning" and get to work to help battle the ice and snow conditions, dpa reported.
Amid the chaos reported after a massive ice storm struck Moscow, Putin called for stepped-up efforts.
"The situation is difficult, but moaning doesn't help," Putin said. He warned against employees starting their New Years celebrations too early.
"Everybody has to work," he said.
The remarks come as numerous areas in the greater Moscow region remained without electricity and chaos continued at the major airports, where a major problem was the a lack of de-icing fluids.
Putin called for Russia to start producing its own de-icing fluids, which currently must be imported.
The country's largest air carrier Aeroflot conceded Wednesday that its de-icing fluid supplies at the main base of operations at Sheremetyevo airport were nearly depleted.
After last weekend's heavy ice storm, Aeroflot's supplies would only last until December 31, airline chief executive Vitaly Savelyev said, noting that "the ice layer on the airplanes was five to six centimetres thick."
Putin's remarks on the situation came a day after President Dmitry Medvedev asked the country's top prosecutor, Yuri Chaika, to review operations at Moscow's international airports following days of weather-related chaos and delays.
"The situation is difficult, but moaning doesn't help," Putin said. He warned against employees starting their New Years celebrations too early.
"Everybody has to work," he said.
The remarks come as numerous areas in the greater Moscow region remained without electricity and chaos continued at the major airports, where a major problem was the a lack of de-icing fluids.
Putin called for Russia to start producing its own de-icing fluids, which currently must be imported.
The country's largest air carrier Aeroflot conceded Wednesday that its de-icing fluid supplies at the main base of operations at Sheremetyevo airport were nearly depleted.
After last weekend's heavy ice storm, Aeroflot's supplies would only last until December 31, airline chief executive Vitaly Savelyev said, noting that "the ice layer on the airplanes was five to six centimetres thick."
Putin's remarks on the situation came a day after President Dmitry Medvedev asked the country's top prosecutor, Yuri Chaika, to review operations at Moscow's international airports following days of weather-related chaos and delays.