Car engines and construction machines keep running around the clock. No starter motor can defy the cold in wintry Surgut. !e city is located in the north of the west Siberian lowlands. !e inhabitants of Surgut drive or fly the 1,200 kilometres to their larger neighbouring city, Omsk. However, the 300,000 or so inhabitants have their reasons for living in permafrost conditions. Surgut is founded on the oil industry; jobs are secure, wages are high and living costs are lower than in Moscow. Up until recently, people living in Surgut had few opportunities to spend their money locally. !e new Agora Mall has permanently changed the shopping landscape of the city and inside, the Rost chain together with exclusive atmosphere that can easily compete with the large cities in western Russia. Expert

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