Bosnian Climbers Die on Russia’s Mount Elbrus

By Reuters July 26, 2026 View from the Garabashi base camp on the southern slope of Mount Elbrus. @elbrusresort/Telegram Five Bosnian climbers have died on Russia's Mount Elbrus after being caught in a violent storm, but the bodies of three people have not yet been evacuated due to bad weather, RIA Novosti reported on Sunday, citing Russian authorities. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said rescuers evacuated the bodies of two dead climbers who were located on the mountain at an altitude of 5,350 meters (17,550 feet). Two other climbers were rescued from the mountain and taken for medical care. The regional branch of the Investigative Committee, Russia's top investigative body, said rescuers had recovered the bodies of three more deceased climbers, but added that they have not yet been evacuated due to bad weather. Regional law enforcement authorities told RIA Novosti that the climbers who died on Elbrus came from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mount Elbrus, which rises to 5,642 meters just north of the border with Georgia, is infamous for sudden changes in weather and climbing conditions. It is Europe's highest mountain. Bosnian media reported the seven members of the climbing expedition were residents of the central town of Zenica and included a married couple and a doctor who worked at the local hospital. Russian media reported that adverse weather conditions had complicated the search and rescue operations. Read more about: Caucasus , Kabardino-Balkaria , Accidents 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 Feature In the North Caucasus, a Constitutional Reform Reopens Centuries-Old Wounds Civil society actors in Kabardino-Balkaria and members of the Circassian diaspora believe the changes would further erode the republic’s autonomy. 4 Min read Police Detain Chairlift Company Employees After Deadly Accident Near Mount Elbrus In the accident last week, a single-seat chairlift along the slopes of Mount Elbrus slipped off a support roller, killing three people and injuring several... 1 Min read News Analysis Leyla Latypova How the Circassian Genocide Remains an Inconvenient Truth for the Kremlin The Circassian Day of Mourning spotlights a genocide that Moscow still refuses to acknowledge. 4 Min read Russian Security Agents Say Killed 2 Militants in North Caucasus Anti-Terrorism Operation A video released by law enforcement showed security agents inside a military vehicle firing toward a two-story home in a remote rural area. 1 Min read