In the Perm Krai, large-scale searches have unfolded for a group of tourists who went missing while climbing Mount Oslyanka. Their disappearance has once again raised questions about the safety of winter routes in the Urals.
The investigative department for the city of Gornozavodsk of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Perm Krai is conducting a procedural check regarding the disappearance of a group of tourists aged 27 to 43 years - both experienced and beginners - from Yekaterinburg and Verkhnyaya Pyshma.
According to preliminary data, on December 13, 2025, 15 people set off on snowmobiles from the village of Srednyaya Usva in the Gornozavodsk municipal district towards Mount Oslyanka, located in the Kizel urban district. On the same day, two members of the group returned, but the fate of the remaining 13 people remains unknown.
The two returning tourists reported that they initially planned to return earlier, as they had matters to attend to at home.
"It has been established that a group of 15 people set off on snowmobiles from the village of Srednyaya Usva in the Gornozavodsk municipal district to Mount Oslyanka, located in the Kizel urban district. On the same day, two tourists returned to the village, and the whereabouts of the others have not been established to this day," the press service of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Perm Krai reported.
According to media reports, the group was organized by Anton Korenyevsky from Yekaterinburg. The tourists did not register their route with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, which significantly complicated the search efforts. On the day of the incident, visibility in the area of Mount Oslyanka was extremely low due to adverse weather conditions.
The group started from the guest house "Oslyanka House." In a chat of volunteers who joined the search, it was reported that on the day of the tourists' disappearance, they were seen in the Kurumy area.
In the evening of the same day, two tourists returned to the village, stating that the other group members had fallen behind due to technical malfunctions of the snowmobiles.
Search operations have begun, involving the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, police, and volunteers. Forensic investigators from the Investigative Committee of Russia are inspecting the area, while the police are checking possible routes taken by the group. Search and rescue teams from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, equipped with drones, thermal imaging cameras, and snowmobiles, are combing the forested areas along with assisting volunteers. The search efforts are complicated by strong winds and snowstorms, which have limited visibility to two to three meters.
The Governor of the Perm Krai, Dmitry Mahonin, has instructed to intensify the search efforts. Coordination groups for volunteers have been created on social media. Relatives of the missing are appealing to local residents for any information that may assist in the search.
Possible versions of the disappearance
Technical malfunction of the snowmobiles could have led to the group's stop in a remote area. Deterioration of weather conditions - a sudden snowstorm or frostbite. A criminal angle has not been ruled out yet, but law enforcement has not found any obvious signs of a crime. Loss of orientation - the tourists may have strayed from their route due to lack of communication.
It is assumed that the group may have set up a temporary camp, as its members had enough food, water, and fuel, and their equipment allows them to survive adverse weather. However, the tourists do not have a satellite phone or tents.
The disappearance of the group of tourists on Oslyanka has become one of the most high-profile incidents of winter 2025. Large-scale searches continue, but many questions remain unanswered. Society demands transparency in the investigation and systemic measures to ensure the safety of tourists in challenging natural conditions.
Mount Oslyanka (height 1119 m) is one of the highest points in the Middle Urals. The area is characterized by a complex terrain, dense forests, and sharp temperature fluctuations. Snowstorms are frequent here in December, complicating the search efforts.
Experts emphasize the need for mandatory registration of routes, equipping tourists with communication and navigation tools, and funding shelters and rescue services.
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