The Death of Climbers on Dykhtau — an accident that occurred in September 2026 in Kabardino-Balkaria, in which two athletes lost their lives: Pavel, a 43-year-old Nizhny Novgorod resident and oncologist, and 30-year-old Vladislav from Tolyatti (born in 1983 and 1996, respectively).[1][2] The tragedy attracted widespread attention in Nizhny Novgorod Region — colleagues and fellow graduates of the deceased Nizhny Novgorod native from the Medical Academy closely followed the course of the search operation.[1]

The ascent and circumstances of the deaths

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

The search operation lasted four days, involving rescuers from the Elbrus High-Altitude Search and Rescue Team and an Mi-8 helicopter. According to Abdullakh Guliyev, head of the Elbrus High-Altitude Search and Rescue Team of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, another group had been traveling the same declared 4B route but had not encountered the missing climbers.[3][4][2] On the morning of September 23, rescuers first found Pavel's backpack, and by 11:00 a.m. the same day they discovered the bodies of both climbers, showing no signs of life, in the mountainous part of Chereksky District.[1][2] A commercial helicopter belonging to the company Heliaction was to be used to evacuate the bodies.[1]

The Nizhny Novgorod resident who died

The 43-year-old Pavel worked as an oncologist. He had previously been employed at the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Oncology Clinic, but had changed jobs several years before the tragedy.[1] According to Alexey Nikonov, editor-in-chief of the MIA Statsionar-press", throughout the days of the search, the operation was followed closely by the deceased's friends and fellow students from the medical academy.[1]

Investigation

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

According to the federal Telegram channel SHOT, Pavel was a member of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Federation of Mountaineering and Rock Climbing (FASNO), held the title of guide-instructor, had completed more than 100 ascents — including the eight-thousanders Annapurna (8,091 m) and Manaslu (8,163 m) without supplemental oxygen — and had climbed Elbrus more than 100 times.[5]

According to Nizhny Novgorod mountaineers, the group lost its way during the ascent — a circumstance considered a possible cause of the tragedy.[5]

Sources

  1. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — The Nizhny Novgorod mountaineer who died on Dykhtau worked as an oncologist. Nizhny Novgorod News (archive)
  2. Vremya N — Two men who went missing in the mountains of Kabardino-Balkaria were found dead
  3. Otkryty Nizhny — Both deceased mountaineers were professional mountain guides.
  4. Newsroom24 — The body of a Nizhny Novgorod mountaineer found on Mount Dykhtau in Kabardino-Balkaria — Incidents
  5. NN.RU — According to information circulated by the federal Telegram channel SHOT, the Nizhny Novgorod mountaineer was a member of FASO (the Federation of Alpinism and Rock Climbing of Nizhny Novgorod Regio
  6. Otkryty Nizhny — Dykhtau, at 5,204 metres, is the second highest peak in Russia and Europe. The mountaineers began their ascent from the Bezengi mountain camp.