Russian authorities in a coal-mining town reportedly covered snow in white paint to hide evidence of pollution.

Footage shared by a local Russian media outlet showed a woman's hand covered in paint after brushing against a snow bank.

Town official Dmitry Ivanov has apologized to locals for the incident and has ordered workers to clean up the paint.

Russian authorities reportedly slapped white paint onto snow to hide evidence of pollution in a coal-mining town in Siberia.

Footage shared by Russian media shows a woman whose hands become coated in what appears to be paint after she brushes against a bank of snow in Mysky, Kemerovo.

"You can see the stains... it even sticks," she says, according to The Moscow Times.

Local media reported white snow was in short supply around the town due to the number of polluting coal mines in the region.

On Wednesday, a town official apologized to residents for the incident.

"I will refrain from assessing the professional qualities of the workers, because it is quite obvious," Dmitry Ivanov said in a statement.

"I gave the command to immediately clean ... the paint and put it in order," he added.

"I apologize to the townspeople to whom this incident spoiled the New Year mood."

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