Authorities in Heilongjiang denied the Russian officials' claims, telling the Global Times today that farmers in the province had not yet begun to harvest crops or burn straw—and won't begin do so until early November because of recent precipitation. 
Mamalaka za Heilongjiang zilikanusha madai ya maafisa wa Urusi, na kuimbia Global Times leo kuwa wakulima wa jimbo hilo walikuwa hawajaanza kuvuna mazao au kuchoma mabua -na hawataanza kufanya shughuli hizo mpaka mapema mwezi Novemba kwa sababu ya hali mbaya ya hewa katika siku za hivi karibuni.