We raise 22 children in the coldest city in the world – we melt ice to drink

Raising a large family can be difficult at the best of times, but one couple faces the challenge while living in the coldest city in the world.

From melting ice for drinking water every morning to making sure their little ones have enough layers to prevent frostbite on the five-minute walk to school, the family has their hands full.

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Aleksandr and Oksana Pavlov spoke with YouTuber Kiun B about their lives raising 22 children in the coldest city in the world.

The family lives in the outskirts of Yakutsk in Eastern Siberia, where they have no access to a central water supply.

Instead, Aleksandr, a former engineer, wakes up early in the morning to “harvest” ice, chopping and melting it for use in the home.

And the water comes in handy, because their water reserves are used not only for drinking, but also in the family bathroom, where there is a long queue every morning.

The Pavlov’s have a total of 22 children, 18 of whom are adopted.

“In May 2003, we initially adopted three children, but later, after several years, we adopted a total of eighteen children,” Aleksandr explains.

“We are currently raising ten children, eight of whom are already adults and live separately.

“They have started their own family. But they often come to visit us.”

The ages of their children range from six years old to 37 years old.

Currently living there are Egorov, David, 25, Yuliya, 22, Sasha, 19, Vova, 17, Archilaana, 14, Lyonya, 13, Algystana, 12, Kolya, 11, Ruslan, 10, Zhanna, nine, Ramina, nine, and Nastaya and Sophia, both six.

“We are blessed to have such a large and loving family“, says Oksana, who has been together with her husband for thirty years.

As a teacher, she was naturally drawn to children and wanted to open her home to as many people as possible.

Because their kitchen table can’t fit everyone at once, the family started dining in groups, divided by age.

Government expenditure pays for the children’s food and clothing, with their parents emphasizing the importance of warm clothing for the younger children.

Although the Pavlovs chose a house just a five-minute walk from the local daycare and school, it is still a dangerous undertaking for the young children.

The older children walk with them every morning so that they can go inside safely to their lessons.

The temperature in Yakutsk can drop to -60 degrees Celsius, while the primary school remains closed once the temperature drops below -45 degrees Celsius.

This meant that some children could enjoy a day at home, helping their father shovel and go sledding outside.

When the cold became too much to bear, they went inside to play in the indoor gym that Aleksandr had built for them to ensure they stayed fit despite their limited time outdoors.

The older children in the family have proven to be successful athletes in a variety of sports, including skiing, boxing and archery.

And while the young children play, the older ones take the bus to the local university.

However, they should be careful to use the correct timing, as any extra minutes outside could lead to an increased risk of frostbite.

Fortunately, their bus passed by, colored red to ensure optimal visibility in dense fog.

‘I think I grew up in the coldest city in the world
us stronger,” said Aleksander.

‘I believe the cold weather makes us resilient and hard
work.”

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“The children always want to help, they help us too
harvesting ice and chopping wood,” Oksana added.

Every evening she prepares dinner for their offspring, including a hot soup, a traditional dish of the day in the region.

Aleksandr helped by cooking the meat in his outdoor stove, giving it an ‘icy taste’.

However, fruits and vegetables are not so easily available due to the impossible growing conditions in the area.

The family instead enjoys frozen berries, which they use to make homemade jam.

And while certain products may be expensive, their household bills are not.

The family uses two gas boilers to keep their 3,800-square-foot home at a warm 75 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. €157 per month.