The Death of Climbers on Dykhtau was an accident that occurred in September 2026 in Kabardino-Balkaria, in which two athletes died: Pavel, a 43-year-old oncologist and resident of Nizhny Novgorod , and Vladislav, 30, from Tolyatti (born in 1983 and 1996, respectively).[1][2] The tragedy drew wide attention in Nizhny Novgorod Region — colleagues and classmates of the deceased Nizhny Novgorod resident from the medical academy followed the progress of the search operation.[1]

The Ascent and the Circumstances of the Deaths

On September 20, 2026, both climbers set out on a route of difficulty category 4B on Mount Dykhtau in the Bezengi Gorge. Dykhtau stands 5,204 meters high and is one of the highest peaks of the Caucasus.[3][4][1] At the scheduled time, the group did not make contact and did not return from the ascent. The last known point on the route was located above the 3,500-meter mark.[4][1]

The search operation lasted four days and involved rescuers from the Elbrus High-Mountain Search and Rescue Detachment and a Mi-8 helicopter. According to Abdullakh Guliyev, head of the Elbrus High-Mountain Search and Rescue Detachment of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, another group had been on the same declared route, 4B, but did not encounter the missing climbers.[3][4][2] On the morning of September 23, rescuers first found Pavel's backpack, and by 11:00 that same day they located the bodies of both climbers, showing no signs of life, in the mountainous part of Cherek District. The Nizhny Novgorod Region Mountaineering Federation later refuted this information, clarifying that the body of only one of the dead had been found, while Pavel, the Nizhny Novgorod man, remained missing at that point.[5][1][2] A commercial Heliaction helicopter was planned to be used to evacuate the bodies.

The body of the climber who had been found was delivered by commercial helicopter to the Bezengi alpine camp and then handed over to law enforcement; the identity of the deceased was not officially disclosed. Rescuers found the Nizhny Novgorod man's partner, Vladislav Chernyshov of Tolyatti, dead; his body was taken down from the mountain by private helicopter.[6][7][1]

The Deceased Nizhny Novgorod Man

Pavel, aged 43, worked as an oncologist. He had previously worked at the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Oncology Dispensary, but changed jobs a few years before the tragedy.[1] According to Alexey Nikonov, editor-in-chief of MIA "Stationar-Press", throughout the search the deceased man's friends and fellow graduates of the medical academy followed the progress of the rescue operation.[1]

Investigation

The Investigative Committee for Kabardino-Balkaria opened a pre-investigation inquiry and ordered forensic medical examinations; a procedural decision is to be made based on their results.[4][1] The work of law enforcement and emergency services on site was overseen by the Kabardino-Balkaria Prosecutor's Office; direct supervision was carried out by Khasan Erzhibov, prosecutor of Cherek District.[4]

According to the federal Telegram channel SHOT, Pavel was a member of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Federation of Mountaineering and Rock Climbing (FASO), held the rank of guide-instructor, and had made more than 100 ascents, including the eight-thousanders Annapurna (8,091 m) and Manaslu (8,163 m) without supplemental oxygen, as well as climbing Elbrus more than 100 times. Pavel Marusov had been mountaineering for more than 20 years: he had conquered Kazbek and Elbrus and led groups into the mountains.[6][8]

According to Nizhny Novgorod mountaineers, the group strayed from its route during the ascent — a circumstance that was considered a possible cause of the tragedy. The search operation was temporarily halted because of bad weather and the difficult mountain terrain of Dykhtau, which makes it one of the most dangerous peaks in Russia; rescuers could resume the search for the second climber only once weather conditions improved. On the fifth day after his disappearance, Pavel Marusov remained missing; search efforts continued.[6] To pay for a commercial helicopter used in the search for Pavel Marusov, the Nizhny Novgorod Region Mountaineering Federation opened a fundraiser — about one million rubles was needed; the amount collected was enough to cover a single flight.[6][7][8]

Sources

  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Nizhny Novgorod Climber Who Died on Dykhtau Worked as an Oncologist Nizhny Novgorod News (archive)
  2. Vremya N — Two Men Missing in the Mountains of Kabardino-Balkaria Found Dead
  3. Open Nizhny — Both of the deceased climbers were professional mountain guides.
  4. Newsroom24 — Body of Nizhny Novgorod Climber Found on Mount Dykhtau in Kabardino-Balkaria — Incidents
  5. Newsroom24 — The Nizhny Novgorod Region Mountaineering Federation refuted initial reports that the bodies of both climbers had been found: according to the federation's updated information, there was o
  6. Living in Nizhny — The Nizhny Novgorod resident's partner, Vladislav Chernyshov of Tolyatti, was found dead by rescuers; his body was brought down from the mountain with the help of a private helicopter.
  7. Newsroom24 — The body of the climber who was found was delivered by a commercial helicopter to the Bezengi mountaineering camp and then handed over to law enforcement; the identity of the deceased was not officially n
  8. NN.RU — According to information circulated by the federal Telegram channel SHOT, the Nizhny Novgorod climber was a member of the FASO (Mountaineering and Rock Climbing Federation of the Nizhny Novgorod Regi
  9. GTRK "Nizhny Novgorod" (Vesti) — The full name of the Nizhny Novgorod climber is Pavel Marusov; as of September 24, 2026, his fate remained unknown, and search and rescue operations were (archive)
  10. Vremya N — According to the Nizhny Novgorod Region Mountaineering Federation, in data published on September 24, 2026, rescuers managed to pinpoint the location of the overnight s
  11. Open Nizhny — Dykhtau, at 5,204 meters, is the second-highest peak in Russia and Europe. The climbers began their ascent from the Bezengi mountaineering camp.