Volunteers delivered 42 trucks of firewood to elderly people in the Leningrad region, who have been saving up for several months to buy firewood. 

Ilya is an entrepreneur who shows tourists remote Vepsian villages in the Leningrad region. He's also been doing a good deed for two years now—in the spring and early summer, he delivered 42 truckloads of firewood to lonely elderly people. 

"We delivered 42 trucks in total, to 24 addresses. Each truck carried approximately 4-5 cubic meters of firewood. And we still have several more addresses we plan to deliver to," Ilya told NeMoskva.  

We managed to reach more than a dozen villages. A truckload of firewood is a great help for the elderly, sometimes the only village residents. One truckload costs between 9 and 12 rubles, depending on how far away the village is. About three trucks are needed for the winter. 

"Their average pension is 19 rubles. So, do the math. That's why some old people save firewood and live in their huts in winter, wearing only their outerwear, or they collect firewood from old sheds, save it for several months, and live hand-to-mouth. Anything can happen," Ilya explained. 

He receives tips from "informers"—village elders, village officials, and sometimes acquaintances—about those who need help. Next year, he plans to continue: you can support the "warm collection" by transferring to the card number: 2200 1529 7521 0702. 

Residents of other regions also have problems with firewood. In the Pskov region, teachers can not afford firewood because of a small salary. In Yakutia, people are freezing and fear cut down the forest themselves, because they could face criminal prosecution. In a remote village in Primorsky Krai, the cost of a truckload of firewood increased up to 46 thousand rubles. They were starving because all the money went on firewood, lived and Kadom resident Lyudmila, who was saved from death by her neighbors. 

Video: Instagram @les.i.veter