Bosnia's capital Sarajevo chokes on toxic air as a thick blanket of winter fog rolls over the city

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Flights were grounded and people were told to stay indoors as a thick blanket of smog Thursday engulfed Bosnia's capital of Sarajevo as residents tried to cope with toxic air.

The Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, which assesses air quality in real time, put Sarajevo’s air quality index, or AQI, at a “very unhealthy” 225, ranking the city as the third most-polluted in the world.

“This is horrible, we are chocking, particularly people with heart conditions,” said pensioner Hajra Subasic. “I can barely breathe, you see how hard it is for me to speak.”

Sarajevo and other major cities in the Balkans are traditionally very polluted during winter months as countries there rely on coal and wood for heating. Experts have warned of effects on people's health because bad air is linked to various diseases and premature deaths.

Nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, Sarajevo is particularly prone to air pollution. Bad urban planning and proliferation of tall buildings have made the problem worse in recent years.

“Nobody is doing anything,” fumed Subasic. “I can't believe this is happening in Bosnia's capital and they (authorities) can't fix it.”

Balkan states generally have poor record in environment protection despite promises to improve the situation as they seek to move closer to European Union membership. Balkan rivers are often clogged with garbage and recycling is almost non-existent.

The air in neighboring Serbia's capital Belgrade also was deemed “unhealthy” on Thursday with the air quality index put at 170.

In Sarajevo, planes were grounded during the morning hours because of the fog and drivers were warned to take additional care because of low visibility. Many people could be seen wearing face masks for at least some protection.

A Sarajevo resident, who gave only her first name as Nada, said she tries to evade pollution by going to the mountains around the city where the air is clean and from where Sarajevo can be seen covered in a cloud of fog below.

“I accumulate some strength there but I have no idea how long it will last,” she said. “It's even worse in our flats because of the heating and dry air and because we can't open our windows.”

People cross a bridge shrouded by pollution haze as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A man walks a dog shrouded by pollution haze as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A man crosses a bridge shrouded by pollution haze as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A woman wears a face mask shrouded by pollution haze as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A woman wears a face mask shrouded by pollution haze as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

People cross the street shrouded by pollution haze as smog covers Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Avaz Twist Tower building, 172 meters high, peaks through a dense layer of fog and smog in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Avaz Twist Tower building, 172 meters high, peaks through a dense layer of fog and smog in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

General view of Sarajevo and TV Tower as a dense layer of fog and smog blankets Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Avaz Twist Tower building, 172 meters high, peaks through a dense layer of fog and smog in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted about the economy and hailed his troops' gains in Ukraine during his annual news conference and call-in show Thursday, an event he uses to reinforce his authority and demonstrate sweeping control of the country’s political scene.

Putin began the tightly choreographed session by saying that Russia's economy is on track to grow by nearly 4% this year. He acknowledged that consumer prices are high, with inflation at 9.3%, but insisted that the economic situation remains “stable.”

Putin, who has held power for nearly a quarter-century, also said the military was "advancing toward achieving our goals” in what he calls the special military operation in Ukraine, where his forces have made slow but steady gains.

“The situation is changing radically, we are advancing along the entire front line,” he said, asking people in the audience to unfurl a banner presented to him by marines fighting the Ukrainian forces that launched an incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

That incursion has proved a major embarrassment for the Kremlin. Asked when Russian troops will drive Ukrainian forces out, Putin responded that “we will certainly kick them out” but wouldn't say how long it will take.

In response to a question about a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile that Russia used for the first time last month to strike Ukraine, Putin scoffed at claims by some Western experts that it could be intercepted by NATO's air defenses.

He mockingly challenged Ukraine's Western allies to a “high-tech duel,” suggesting that Moscow could give advance notice of a strike on Kyiv with the Oreshnik missile — and see if the West could protect the city. "Let's see what happens,” he added with a smile.

Putin has said Russia's use of the Oreshnik was a response to the West granting permission for Kyiv to use their longer-range weapons for strikes on Russia. He threatened that Moscow could launch more strikes on Ukraine with the missile and warned it could also be used to target military facilities of the countries that allowed Ukraine to use their missiles for attacks deep into Russia.

In past years, the show, which is broadcast live by state-controlled TV stations across Russia’s 11 time zones, has been heavily dominated by domestic issues. Most journalists and ordinary people call the studio to ask about road repairs, utility prices, medical services and government subsidies.

Meanwhile, journalists in the hall near the Kremlin wave colorful signs and placards as they try desperately to attract Putin’s attention.

But the event is particularly watched for Putin's comments on foreign affairs.

Just two days before, a senior Russian general was killed by a bomb outside his apartment building in Moscow. The brazen killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, claimed by Ukraine, brought the nearly 3-year-old conflict once again to the streets of the Russian capital.

Putin has said that Moscow stands ready for talks on a peaceful settlement to the conflict but reaffirmed his demand that Ukraine must renounce its bid to join NATO and recognize Russia’s gains. Ukraine and the West have rejected those demands.

Observers will be alert for any signs of shift in the Russian leader’s bargaining position ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to negotiate a deal to end the hostilities.

Putin also made his first comments on the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad

The Russian leader said that he hadn’t yet met Assad, who was given asylum in Moscow, but plans to do so and will ask him about Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria 12 years ago.

“We also can pose the question to people who control the situation on the ground in Syria,” Putin said.

Assad’s demise has dealt a painful blow to Russia, which launched a military intervention in Syria nine years ago to prop up Assad’s government amid a civil war.

Moscow has quickly sought to establish contacts with the victorious rebels to secure its diplomatic and military personnel in the country and try to extend the lease on its air and naval bases in the country.

Russian state media reported that ordinary citizens submitted more than 2 million questions ahead of the show.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)