Five Bosnian Climbers Feared Dead on Russia’s Mount Elbrus

By Reuters July 26, 2026 @elbrusresort/Telegram Five Bosnian climbers are feared to have died on Russia's Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, after being caught in a violent storm, a Bosnian climbing rescue service said on Sunday, as Russian rescuers continued to search for the bodies. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said rescuers had saved two other climbers, who were evacuated from the mountain and taken for medical care. It said the bodies of two further members of the same group had been located on the mountain at an altitude of 5,350 meters (17,550 feet) and would be evacuated when weather conditions allowed. The search for the three other bodies is ongoing, the ministry added, without specifying their nationality. Mount Elbrus, which rises to 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) just north of the border with Georgia, is infamous for sudden changes in weather and climbing conditions. Bosnian media reported that the seven members of the climbing expedition were residents of the town of Zenica and included a married couple and a doctor who worked at the local hospital. Russian media reported that adverse weather conditions, including strong winds, had complicated the search and recovery operations. Read more about: Caucasus , Kabardino-Balkaria 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 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 Explainer: How Does Russia Loom Over Abkhazia’s Latest Protests? The breakaway Georgian region was rocked by protests after activists opposing a controversial investment treaty with Russia were detained and held by security... 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