2021 was a year of great-yes, to say more, incredible changes for the famous hermit, 77 - year-old Agafya Lykova. She moved into a large new house from a dilapidated hut built by her father. But the innovations do not end there.
- We have completed the second stage, - Viktor Nepomnyashchy, director of the Khakass Nature Reserve, shares the news. – The house itself was sheathed and insulated, a cellar was equipped and a Russian oven was installed. Not a simple one, but a special one: Agafya Karpovna herself said what and how to do it. Like the hut, the stove was built exactly as the hostess asked. Everything is coordinated with her, she simply does not accept what is not according to her. At the bottom of the furnace, they made a salary, as Agafya Karpovna asked, very strongly insisted. This detail was important, because her father - in-law (father) did it-a salary on the sand from a bar.
Recall that a lot of people follow the fate of Agafya Lykova, and they are divided into two camps: some believe that the taiga hermit should be forcibly taken to the Mainland so as not to spend money on help (textbook: the former head of Khakassia Viktor Zimin called Lykova a "useless old woman"), others say that it is important for her to stay in place: "and to help her is mercy."
Last year, Oleg Deripaska, a well-known philanthropist and public figure in Khakassia, offered his help to the taiga hermit. Along with food and various necessary things in everyday life, a new stove was brought to her. However, it was clear to everyone that this was only a temporary solution to the problem, because the hut is very dilapidated and has been in need of repair for a long time. Agafya Karpovna wrote a letter to Oleg Deripaska, in which she thanked him for his help and asked him to build her a new hut. And now-the dream came true, in March 2021, Agafya Lykova moved to a new house. But it was not fully equipped yet – finishing was required and, of course, the stove – the "main" one in the hut.
To build in a remote taiga, where it is not easy to get there with an ordinary cargo – it is a special thing. To deliver the materials, we made 14 flights on airboats. For the construction of the furnace, 1.5 thousand pieces of refractory bricks and a ton of mortar for masonry were needed. The oven came out with a size of 1.5*2 – you can cook on it, and it warms well, and bakes.
- We worked for a month, of which almost two and a half weeks were not allowed to relax by bears who wandered right through the garden and kept, as they say, "in good shape" of the builders, - Nepomnyashchy shared. - But the men accelerated and quickly coped with the work. In a word, no one was injured, but they brought fear, God forbid.
Bears this year, indeed, have completely "lost their fear"at Zaimka. They go out and wander around as if at home. Recently, a bear with two cubs has got into the habit of visiting. Agafya even sent an inspector with a gun to help her (she called on a satellite phone) to scare off predators-thank God, this was done. In the last couple of weeks, it seems that zaimka has become calmer.
Agafya Karpovna herself does not complain about life. He feels well, keeps house:
- I planted potatoes, various green mushrooms, tomatoes. Everything is fine with her. I strongly thanked everyone for their help, and the builders, and the inspectors, and Oleg Deripaska.
HELP "KP"
The Lykov family of Old Believers went to the upper reaches of the Abakan and lived in complete isolation for 40 years since 1937, until geologists discovered them. Now only 77-year-old Agafya Lykova is left alive.
The family of Agafya Lykova became famous thanks to the legendary journalist of Komsomolskaya Pravda, Vasily Peskov. He wrote several books about the Lykovs and talked about them on the pages of our newspaper for about 30 years. His documentary story "Taiga Dead End" has been reprinted many times, translated into several languages.