Under an assumed name, urban climber and photographer Max Polazov, 22, has been breaking into buildings in Moscow since the age of 17.

He said: ‘Many think that I am a madman or I they do not realise how much experience I have.

‘While I’m hanging from a building I perfectly concentrate my body and I plan carefully ahead.

‘Fear isn’t present when I do this, I must have complete mindfulness.

‘The majority of my photos are made at height of more than 100m, so at any time death is quite possible – but nevertheless I try to avoid it.’

The nature of their hobby means Mr Polazov and other enthusiasts face constant confrontations with the law.

What started as his own extreme pastime has now grown to become a youth sub-culture as more and more young Russians take part.

He said: ‘I would prefer not to say how we get on to roofs – each magician should keep his secrets.

‘Many of the stunts people do are illegal and people get arrested if they are caught.

‘I never had a fear of heights, instead there was a desire to rise above the others and to look at the world from an unusual point of view.

‘In recent years the popularity of roofing as a youth movement has sharply increased in Russia.’

So far his obsession has seen him scaling tall buildings in Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan and Ufa.

But he hopes to bring his hobby to the West, and tackle high buildings in Britain, France and even the U.S.

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