Mother abandons children naked in Russian forest at minus 15 degrees

A woman in Russia allegedly abandoned her three children unclothed in a forest amid freezing temperatures; they are now all suffering from frostbite.

The 33-year-old woman had intended to kill the children near the Russian capital, Moscow, on Friday night, investigators said.

A local resident found the minors completely frozen as the mercury dipped to around -15 degrees and alerted the police.

The children were taken to hospital. According to the Ria Novosti news agency, one of them is in a critical condition and needs artificial respiration.

The mother was taken to a clinic to have her mental health checked.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against her for attempted murder.