Byelaya smert, meaning White Death in Russian, is a technique invented by the Russian Mafia. This technique is applied to kill off victims without leaving any visible traces. It typically involves stuffing snow, or ice, down the victim's throat, blocking off the trachea, or windpipe, by packing the snow tightly in the larynx to prevent air from entering the lungs. Upon death, the body remains warm enough to sufficiently melt away the snow, leaving no physically visible traces of any struggle or foul play involved.