A Miracle Forged Despite the Elements: How Svobodny's Most Challenging Postcard on Ice Was Created

30 december 2025

The Miracles on Ice postcard festival held in honor of Valery Melnikov, the original ice artist, has been warming the hearts of Amur Oblast’s residents for six years. New creative talents from the region continue to join the fellowship of ice artists, with more villagers taking their spades to the ice for the first time. Some of the most dedicated artists live in Svobodny, and this year saw another large-scale ice canvas created here. Grigory Chirey, the founder and Chairman of Amur Oblast’s Ice Artists Club, not only inspired the team and wielded his shovel, but also assumed the role of a journalist for the first time. The Amurskaya Pravda daily is printing Grigory's account of creating the postcard in the city that has drawn the attention of the president.

A Test of Strength: the Blizzard and Doubts

If miracles happened in perfect conditions, they would not be genuine. The story of this season's largest and most challenging ice postcard is a tale of commitment to one’s cause, a commitment stronger than the stormy weather.

On the eve of the scheduled day, nature decided to give us a rigorous test. Everything was buried beneath a major blizzard, forcing the cancellation of many planned city events. Our phone would not stop ringing: we were getting dozens of calls and messages with a single question of "Would the ice postcard be cancelled?" But the date had been set, people were waiting, and we were ready to fight for the miracle until the very end. All that remained was to send our prayers to the celestial chancellery asking for at least a short reprieve.

The journey to the lake was a feat in itself. The federal motor road was thoroughly snowed in, and the drive was slow and exhausting. And when we finally reached our destination, we were dealt another blow: all the visible markings that had been laid out in advance, the outlines of the future masterpiece, were hidden beneath a thick layer of freshly fallen snow so that only blurred contours remained visible on the white field. It felt as if all the prior work had been in vain.

“Snow Archaeology” and Team Spirit

So we picked up our shovels like archaeologists lifting their pickaxes, and a two-hour excavation began. Centimeter by centimeter, we uncovered our snowed-in masterpiece. This time proved an unexpected trial, but that was precisely what made our team even more cohesive. With every dug-up line, with every emerging element of our sketch, we felt our excitement steadily growing. Everyone was truly invested in the result and worked their hardest, and the expected result became a more powerful motivator than any deadline.

The storm was not relenting. The fierce wind blowing across the lake chose to test our resolve: it lifted and carried away our tent that we used as a warming-up station. The scene was both dramatic and funny: our teammates chased the runaway tent across the frozen field. The tent was finally caught, returned to its place, and put back up, this time secured more tightly, with more reliable fastenings. This episode became a metaphor for the whole day’s events: here, everyone was ready to lend a helping hand both for the common cause and for each one of us.

The Soul, Frozen Brushes, and a Big Carrot

The work was proceeding apace. Everyone contributed not only their brute force, but also a piece of soul. Things got especially animated during the application of paint, as the artists chose their sections of the painting, debated hues, and exchanged ideas. The cold air made its own adjustments: brushes and tools froze, were swiftly re-warmed, replaced, and the work continued without pause.

Art demands flexibility, and even the most carefully conceived sketch changed on the spot, guided by circumstance and one’s sense of beauty. For example, we decided to greatly enlarge the carrot in the hare's paws. That was pure improvisation.

People came and went; not everyone could remain in place from beginning to end, yet each made a contribution. And that was the true miracle—the ability to unite for a common purpose, creating something whole from many disjointed efforts.

The Final Touch: Father Christmas on the Ice Field

The great smelling BBQ, hot tea, sweet pastries and pies, cheerful music, and warm, kindly smiles—all this helped create a sense of comfort atmosphere and kept everyone from freezing.

The success, earned through the incredible efforts of an entire day, was sweet. Frozen, weary, yet profoundly inspired, we gazed upon the miracle we had brought into being. A feeling of pride for the team, which had overcome the cold, the wind, and the unyielding ice, warmed us more than any bonfire. This was not merely a postcard—it was a monument to perseverance, patience, the power to create beauty against all odds, and, of course, to genuine friendship and support.

And then, when the final brushstrokes were laid down, the finest reward arrived.

Father Christmas with his granddaughter, the Snow Maiden, the principal witnesses of winter miracles, descended onto the ice field to congratulate everyone and behold the creation in person. Their appearance amid the sparkling, paint-adorned ice became a kind of magical tuning fork confirming: yes, a miracle had just been worked. It had been labored for, wrested from snow and wind, and warmed by the heat of many hands and hearts. And that made it all the more precious.

The Postcard Became a Good Deed

For the ice artists’ club, the past summer was truly historic. At the 3^rd Good in the Leading Role Volunteering Forum in Svobodny, the club’s activists were awarded the top honor in the Ice Volunteering category, receiving their first-ever volunteering Oscar.

In addition, the ice postcard project implemented in the ice of Lake Dubovskoye became the winner of the Communities Changing the World contest and received a grant from SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program. The contest is operated by the Amur office of the National Corporate Volunteering Council (NCVC).

Elena Snezhko, Head of SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program and Chair of the NCVC’s regional offices in Amur Oblast and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra: Amur Oblast’s volunteers are not just people who want to do good. It is a community capable of turning the whole world upside down!

Natalya Shkuropatova, the sketch’s author: “It's important for me to bring joy to people”

Not every image can be transferred onto an iced surface and built up with snow. That’s the message Natalya Shkuropatova gleaned from the discussions held inside the group of Svobodny’s Club of Ice Artists.

During the discussion, ideas were flying: a horseshoe for luck, a fiery horse's head, the Snow Maiden, a heart clasped in a handshake, the celebratory Happy New Year 2026, Svobodny! inscription, a hare with a carrot on the Moon, and stars. Uniting such different symbols into a single coherent whole seemed an impossible task. That’s where Natalya stepped in as the ice postcard designer. She didn't just pick the best elements, she took the initiative to synthesize them, creating a complex, harmonious, and meaningful sketch that won the majority vote.

The highest professional praise came when the experienced ice artist Andrey Balenko saw her work: he did not correct or refine a thing. For Andrey himself, stomping out this multi-component composition became a unique creative challenge, a fresh chapter in a craft the thought he had mastered.

Natalya was more than just the author of an idea on a piece of paper. She lived her concept through, putting a piece of her soul into it. The lunar hare with the carrot and the Snow Maiden were the focus of her particular love and attention. After the blizzard buried the figure in snow, Natalya selflessly dug out her precious and spent the whole day refining it, tending to it as if it were a living character.

“For me, it is very important not only to gain new experience but also to bring people joy”, said the sketch's author.

And she gives it to people in full measure: with her gifts of an artist, a diplomat, an engineer, and a devoted guardian of created beauty. Natalya was able to prove that a true miracle on ice is born where boundless imagination, technical precision, and a deep sense personal responsibility for a shared goal meet.

Without a doubt, paper and ice are two completely different media. To understand this, you need to go through the whole journey: from developing the sketch to transferring the image to the frozen surface. And I am so grateful that the organizers and participants of the Ice Miracles festival gave us this opportunity, such an opportunity appeared. I am confident that the postcard we created with our team of creative activists will be a delight to everyone's eye!” Natalya Shkuropatova noted.

This year, the creative community became stronger thanks to a powerful, responsible, and cohesive addition.

Anna Shvedchenko, Category 1 Specialist at the Office under the Management of the Amur Branch of Gazpromtrans: This year, for the first time, our team at of the Amur Branch of Gazpromtrans took part in preparing the ice postcard for the annual Ice Miracles festival in Svobodny. When the organizers invited us to get onboard, we responded with great enthusiasm. We’d always wondered how such large-scale ice compositions emerge. The marking and sketching process alone took about five hours. Knowing that heavy snowfall was forecast and that our rough draft could end up buried in snow, we worked as diligently as possible to perform the tasks assigned to us: clearing and preparing the ice, removing the snow. On the final day, the brought the composition to the state of perfection with ease and in excellent spirits by following the template we had laid down. We also got to learn about, and experience firsthand, the background of Valery Melnikov, and we will hold his memory in deepest esteem.

Students of the Amur Institute of Railway Transport admit: This event was a real celebration for us, and we are thrilled we could bring our idea to life in such a heartfelt and beautiful form. It was incredibly touching to see people from different organizations rally around a shared cause and create something truly unique. This reminded us that creativity and kindness are the best ways to get warm even on the nippiest days! Our special thanks go out to the organizers for bringing us together and making this possible. We also want to shout out Grigory for his positive attitude and active involvement—really truly inspired us! We were all delighted with the atmosphere of the event and we are already eagerly awaiting our next chance to participate. Thank you to everyone who believes in such crazy ideas and helps make them a reality. You are true superheroes!

I've held, carried, and dragged many things while creating ice postcards, but it was the first time that I picked up in my arms my favorite teacher from my student days!

Tatyana Pogran, Deputy Director of the Amur Institute of Railway Transport: This is my second time taking part in creating a postcard from snow. Grigory is an amazing person, capable of assembling a team of like-minded people around him, even if none of them knew each other beforehand. Together, armed with shovels and brooms, everyone quickly found a common language and worked like true friends. Our students have a fantastic example to look up to for dedication and team spirit. I am so proud of your work, Grigory!

For professor and organizer from the Amur IRT Leonid Chifanov, the ice postcard is a personal mission where he plays two magical roles: that of a thoughtful organizer creating the right conditions for creativity, and a generous Father Christmas who gifts this fairy tale to everyone around.

Leonid shares: The ice postcard gave me a huge boost of positivity, and it charges up the students and teachers, too. It is a chance to express my creative ideas, see the world in a new light, and share this vision with others. Every year, the ice postcard becomes a unique work of art that embodies the spirit of the time and reflecting the artist’s skill. Creating an ice postcard is a labor-intensive process requiring not only talent but also grit. Artists work in harsh weather conditions, at low temperatures, to create masterpieces from ice and snow. But the result is definitely worth the effort. Seeing the postcard shine in the sun or under spotlights, and the delight and admiration on everyone’s faces makes it all worthwhile.

Oksana Kirichenko and Mikhail Mishenkin are our reliable Ice Miracles ambassadors.

Mikhail notes: I have been participating in Ice Miracles since December 2022. Every year, more people want to join in creating the postcard, and so it gets easier to fulfill our plan, even with tricky weather. This year, after we had applied the markings and the initial sketch, it started snowing, making our job more challenging. But we were confident that we would bring our idea to life, knowing that Andrey Balenko and Grigory Chirey were on our team, plus we had plenty of diligent helpers and enthusiasts helping us. On Saturday, we performed our job almost playfully. We were left with fantastic emotions and were in excellent mood after what we had done!

Tatyana Kovshina, Chair of the Youth Council of the Svobodnensky region, recounts: I want to tell you about our first experience creating an ice postcard. This was not just a project, but a true immersion into a world of fairy tales and magic. Every piece of ice, every snowflake was imbued with inspiration and the desire to share that feeling with others. Imagine nippy air, sparkling snow, and the happy eyes of people making a miracle! It's priceless. We put into this postcard not only our skills but also a piece of our soul, our hopes and dreams for a bright future. May it serve as a reminder of the power of unity and believing in miracles. From the bottom of my heart, I wish everyone a lot of warmth, joy, and the fulfillment of their most cherished dreams in the coming year! May our ice fairy tale become a symbol of kindness and inspiration for all residents of Svobodny!

Lidiya Kostina, an ice artist: An incredible ice miracle has been worked in Svobodny! In the New Year the horse would be symbolizing freedom, energy, moving forward, passion, independence, and strength of spirit. May this symbol bring us many great changes, new opportunities, a lot of action, as well as honesty and a striving for self-expression.

The family of Elena and Vadim Mazhuga: Taking part in creating the New Year's ice postcard has already become a tradition for our family and friends from the Chameleon volunteer team. This year, there were so many interesting sketches; we wanted to create something truly unique and attention-grabbing that would bring joy. We tried to make the image look kind and alive, like the New Year holidays from our childhood. The heart-and-handshake in our city's name is a symbol of friendship, help, and unity, because ice creativity unites and brings joy to everyone around us. I thank all participants of our postcard endeavor; everyone was so creative, reliable, and responsive. And Grigory and Andrey are our superheroes. Neither the blizzard nor the difficult road could scare or stop them.

This was the first time Sergey Bessonov joined us but he immediately contributed a bright and significant detail to the sketch: his horseshoe with a horse became a symbol of good fortune and gave fluidity to the whole composition.

I want to express my tremendous gratitude to the organizers and participants of the festival! Everything was organized really well: people were super friendly, everything was well prepared, and there was an amazing atmosphere of unity. It was truly pleasant to spend this time outdoors, combining active fun with creative work. The whole process – from marking t to applying the final touches— was completely engaging. Special thanks for the warm hospitality and the chance to be a part of this ice miracle! We will definitely be back!

Stella and Alexander Shorikov made their debut on the ice.

On a sunlit Saturday, I was delighted to take part in creating the Ice Postcard on Lake Dubovskoye. Yet I could not come empty-handed, and so I had made some chocolate cupcakes. You cannot imagine the amount joy I experienced. Being able to speak with kind people and see happy faces of those enjoying my treats: what could be better than feeling useful? Emotions like this are priceless. And the moments of happiness that arrive after you see something made with your own hands carry you back to your days of childhood, to that magic moment when Father Christmas comes to your home. Do not wait for a miracle to happen to you, work miracles yourselves and share them with others. Open your hearts to love, share warmth with those around you, and may your good deeds return to you a hundredfold.

Young helper Kostik Shirokov had been looking forward to the trip with his grandmother to help build a New Year's postcard in the snow. And when he reached the destination, his anticipation blossomed into pure delight. Seven-year-old Kostik happily took on any task: clearing snow, painting letters, and helping wherever he could. But his greatest delight came when Father Christmas and the Snow Maiden arrived unexpectedly.

As we were already leaving and driving past the lake where the snow postcard lay displayed, Kostik said proudly: That's my work, too! His eyes shone with the happiness of belonging to something important.

Oksana Denisova says: For our families, this was not merely a day off, but a true feast for the soul. Thank you so much for inviting us to be a part of this magic! It was wonderful to create beauty together, to feel this amazing energy of a shared purpose, and to see so many happy eyes, children's and adults' alike. We are glad we could help in some small way, and yet we received tenfold more in return: warmth, companionship, and a wealth of joyful memories. We will definitely be with you the next time!

Marina Buchman, Manager at SIBUR: We are pleased to once again join the team of Amur Oblast’s ice artists and thus continue Valery Melnikov's tradition of congratulating Amur Oblast’s residents with New Year’s ice postcards! Participation in such initiatives makes volunteering teams more cohesive, strengthens the spirit of community and mutual support, and puts people in a festive mood!

Olga Smirnova: Our family has been taking part in creating ice postcards for several years now. For the second year in a row, Leonid Chifanov and I have been portraying the Father Christmas and the Snow Maiden delighting our youngest ice artists and offering a small fairy tale to the entire volunteering team. I had long wanted to draw the bunny with a carrot that I remembered from my childhood’s postcards. Olga came onto the ice with her husband Andrey. Despite the cold, our work unfolded in an atmosphere of genuine warmth and friendship. My husband and I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the principal organizer of Ice Miracles, Grigory Chirey, to the artist Andrey Balenko, who designs these vast snow canvases and coordinates the work of volunteers throughout the day, and to our cameraman Anatoly Dolgopolov, who captures the entire process on film and then creates great videos that allow us to relive what we made together!

Natalya Grushko, Deputy Head of Svobodny’s City Administration: Such projects are a living embodiment of social responsibility, when business, government, and the public rally around a tangible cause. Our City Mayor Vladimir Konstantinov supports this approach, and we intend to continue developing our cooperation with the NCVC in Amur Oblast. The Ice Postcard initiative has become an annual tradition, and our plans already include new joint projects that will make life in Svobodny better.

Our special thanks go to the management and employees of LESTRANSIT. They didn't just support the idea but also provided a warm room for storing tools, cleared, and maintained the access road leading to the lake.

Maria Shevchuk, Head of the Youth, Family, and Childhood Affairs Department of Svobodny’s Administration: I sincerely thank the volunteers and organizers. It is super important for us that the city's young are so actively and enthusiastically engaged in constructive activities. This is not only about beautifying the city but also a school of teamwork, responsibility, and community engagement. I am confident that the potential of our young residents, as shown here, will become the foundation for many other socially impactful initiatives.

Our special thanks go to Anatoly Dolgopolov, our guardian angel in the air.

Anatoly Dolgopolov, Operational Duty Officer at the Corporate Security Department of Gazprom Pererabotka Blagoveshchensk: This is my second time participating in this amazing event as an aerial videographer. In fact, my work begins long before the moment we take off. First comes an analysis of the site and the marking of safe takeoff and landing zones so not even a single snowflake falls astray. This is followed by a demanding flight in extreme conditions. Our spirited DJI Mini 3 Pro kept trying to fly away with the wind, the batteries survived for only a few minutes in the cold temperature, and every decision had to be made instantly. But that's precisely what's most important, to ensure a flawless image for all viewers while remaining unseen. I am proud that I can apply my professional skills not only in my job but also in helping with the creation of such beauty. Thank you for the trust! We will certainly continue this fairy-tale tradition.

Svobodny’s Ice Artists Club is an remarkable “ice brotherhood”. There are no random people here, only seasoned veterans, for whom ice is a second element, and young participants, picking up a chisel for the first time; as well as families and entire work teams who have turned this special ordeal into a celebration of their own. We may be different, but we are united by a single desire of giving the city a sense of magic.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you, dear residents of Svobodny and guests of the city! Despite nature's stern warning, the blizzard that buried the entire region under snow, you were not afraid to come to Lake Dubovskoye. Thank you for your faith in miracles, something that warmed us more than any bonfire would. Your smiles, admiring glances, and joyful exclamations were the most precious reward.

Special words of thanks go to our chief inspirers and organizers, the editorial team of the Amurskaya Pravda, who first kindled this spark and continue to keep the flame of the Ice Miracles festival alive. And, of course, a deep bow to everyone who, this time, picked up a tool, who supported the creation of this singular icy fairy tale with a word of advice, by deed, or simply by their presence. This miracle, as always, was created by us TOGETHER.

Source: https://ampravda.ru/2025/12/30/cudo-vopreki-stixii-kak-v-svobodnom-rozdalas-samaia-trudnaia-ledovaia-otkrytka.

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A Test of Strength: the Blizzard and Doubts

“Snow Archaeology” and Team Spirit

The Soul, Frozen Brushes, and a Big Carrot

The Final Touch: Father Christmas on the Ice Field

The great smelling BBQ, hot tea, sweet pastries and pies, cheerful music, and warm, kindly smiles—all this helped create a sense of comfort atmosphere and kept everyone from freezing.

And then, when the final brushstrokes were laid down, the finest reward arrived.

The Postcard Became a Good Deed

Natalya Shkuropatova, the sketch’s author: “It's important for me to bring joy to people”

“For me, it is very important not only to gain new experience but also to bring people joy”, said the sketch's author.

This year, the creative community became stronger thanks to a powerful, responsible, and cohesive addition.

I've held, carried, and dragged many things while creating ice postcards, but it was the first time that I picked up in my arms my favorite teacher from my student days!

Oksana Kirichenko and Mikhail Mishenkin are our reliable Ice Miracles ambassadors.

Stella and Alexander Shorikov made their debut on the ice.

Our special thanks go to Anatoly Dolgopolov, our guardian angel in the air.

Source: https://ampravda.ru/2025/12/30/cudo-vopreki-stixii-kak-v-svobodnom-rozdalas-samaia-trudnaia-ledovaia-otkrytka.

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A Test of Strength: the Blizzard and Doubts

“Snow Archaeology” and Team Spirit

The Soul, Frozen Brushes, and a Big Carrot

The Final Touch: Father Christmas on the Ice Field

The great smelling BBQ, hot tea, sweet pastries and pies, cheerful music, and warm, kindly smiles—all this helped create a sense of comfort atmosphere and kept everyone from freezing.

And then, when the final brushstrokes were laid down, the finest reward arrived.

The Postcard Became a Good Deed

Natalya Shkuropatova, the sketch’s author: “It's important for me to bring joy to people”

“For me, it is very important not only to gain new experience but also to bring people joy”, said the sketch's author.

This year, the creative community became stronger thanks to a powerful, responsible, and cohesive addition.

I've held, carried, and dragged many things while creating ice postcards, but it was the first time that I picked up in my arms my favorite teacher from my student days!

Oksana Kirichenko and Mikhail Mishenkin are our reliable Ice Miracles ambassadors.

Stella and Alexander Shorikov made their debut on the ice.

Our special thanks go to Anatoly Dolgopolov, our guardian angel in the air.

Source: https://ampravda.ru/2025/12/30/cudo-vopreki-stixii-kak-v-svobodnom-rozdalas-samaia-trudnaia-ledovaia-otkrytka.

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