Krasnoyarsk Woman Killed by Bear Amid Rise in Attacks

Sep. 16, 2026 A promenading brown bear. Alena Maruk / pexels A bear killed a 66-year-old woman in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, law enforcement authorities said Wednesday, marking the latest fatal encounter amid a reported rise in bear attacks across Russia this year. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, said the woman was found dead in the remote village of Verkhny Kebezh, around 3,400 kilometers (2,100 miles) east of Moscow. Investigators released images showing a rural wooden house and its yard, which appeared to be the woman’s home. News of the deadly attack came after officials on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East said they shot and killed a bear that wandered onto the grounds of a school in the village of Palana. Russia has recorded around 20 bear attacks since the start of the year, experts say, though it is not clear how many of them have been fatal. Bears are confirmed to have killed at least five people in Siberia over the past month alone, state media reported. Russia’s Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has dismissed reports of an uptick in bear attacks this year, noting that the annual figure tends to hover between 20 and 30. In 2014, Russia saw a record 166 bear attacks. It blamed the recent public anxiety over bear encounters on videos spreading across social media. The ministry also said Russia’s brown bear population has more than doubled since 1990 and now stands at 307,000. Read more about: Wildlife , Animals , Krasnoyarsk , 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 7 Injured in Krasnoyarsk Region School Attack Five children and two adults were treated at a local hospital and discharged for outpatient care, the regional health ministry said. 1 Min read Feature As Kremlin Boasts of Arctic Riches, Indigenous Peoples Struggle to Survive Though their ancestral lands are being eyed for their energy and mineral wealth, the Indigenous peoples of Russia's Arctic are unlikely to prosper. 6 Min read Russia Plans $65M Patriotic Youth Center in Siberia The facility will serve as a flagship site for the Movement of the First, a Kremlin-backed youth organization created after the full-scale invasion of... 2 Min read Is Russia Running Out of Time to Save the Caspian Seal From Extinction? If authorities fail to take decisive action to protect the seals, scientists estimate that the species could go extinct within two decades. 4 Min read