RUSSIA yesterday said it was beating back the country’s worst ever wildfires, including one close to a secret nuclear site, as thunderstorms and torrential rain drenched parts of the parched country.

The last nine members of a Russian doomsday cult holed up underground for months awaiting the end of the world abandoned their cave today.

Russia says it has made more than 66 tons of mustard gas safe in its first chemical weapons destruction centre.