Bodies of Missing 12-Year-Old Girls Found in Siberia’s Yenisei River

July 9, 2026 A shoe belonging to one of the missing girls in the republic of Tyva. Republic of Tyva Interior Ministry The bodies of two girls who went missing in Siberia’s republic of Tyva earlier this month have been recovered from the Yenisei River, regional authorities said Thursday. The 12-year-old girls left their homes in the regional capital of Kyzyl on July 1. Law enforcement launched a search operation shortly after the girls vanished, later discovering their cellphones and shoes on the riverbanks. Vladislav Khovalyg, the head of Tyva, said Thursday that search teams recovered two bodies matching the description of the missing girls, adding that formal identification is underway. “This is an incredibly heavy and painful moment for all of us,” Khovalyg wrote in a Telegram post. The regional branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said one of the bodies was found near a village southwest of Kyzyl, which lies 125 kilometers (78 miles) north of Russia’s border with Mongolia. Earlier this week, investigators told state media they were looking into accidental drowning, suicide or foul play as potential explanations for the disappearances. The Yenisei River, which originates in Mongolia, flows north through central Siberia to the Kara Sea and is one of the three major Siberian rivers emptying into the Arctic Ocean. Read more about: Children , Tyva , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Krasnoyarsk Police Arrest Teenager Who Set Fire to School Classroom and Attacked Students It was the second attack at a school in the Siberian region in just as many days. 1 Min read Police Arrest Chief Physician and Intensive Care Head at Siberian Hospital Where Newborns Died Prosecutors charged the two hospital employees with negligence resulting in death and said an investigation was underway. 2 Min read Feature Russian Students Start School Year Marked by Surveillance, War Veterans and Anti-Migrant Measures Students going back to school will find their classrooms transformed once again by the war in Ukraine. 6 Min read Feature For Indigenous Families in Russia, Keeping Language Alive Is an Impossible Task In Russia's ethnic republics, erasure facilitated by Kremlin-dictated policy has many fearing for the future of their Indigenous languages. 5 Min read