Rare Tornado Hits City in Russia’s Ural Mountains

June 23, 2026 Aftermath of a tornado strike in the city of Kushva, Sverdlovsk region. Telegram A tornado ripped through the city of Kushva in the Ural Mountains region of Sverdlovsk on Monday evening, knocking down power lines, destroying homes and injuring at least 16 people, local emergency authorities said. Dozens of homes were completely leveled and nearly 100 others sustained damage from the high winds. Videos shared on social media captured the funnel cloud moving through a populated area, while subsequent images revealed a landscape of uprooted trees, crushed vehicles and destroyed houses. The strength of the tornado was not immediately clear. Regional officials said emergency crews were working around the clock to restore electricity to the city, which is located around 170 kilometers (105 miles) north of the regional capital, Yekaterinburg. “Generators are currently keeping the city hospital and the children’s hospital powered. Additionally, electricity has been restored via a backup line to 6,000 residential consumers,” the regional government said in a press release. A tornado ripped through the city of Kushva in the Ural Mountains region of Sverdlovsk on Monday evening, knocking down power lines, destroying homes and injuring at least 16 people.Read more: https://t.co/NWGmTBNxUz pic.twitter.com/I8LXMeNIT5— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) June 23, 2026 While tornadoes are uncommon in Russia due to its geography, more than 100 are recorded across the country annually. “This is certainly a rare event. However, such tornadoes do occur once every few years in the Sverdlovsk region and surrounding areas,” said local meteorologist Alexei Pulin. “What’s unique about this particular incident is that it passed directly through the city, caused extensive damage, and was witnessed by multiple residents,” he added. The Sverdlovsk regional branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry warned that severe weather will persist throughout the week. Forecasters expect heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail and gale-force winds to hit the region between Wednesday and Thursday. Read more about: Weather , Sverdlovsk , 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 Police Detain Man After He Rushes at Sverdlovsk Governor Video of the incident showed a man in a blue tracksuit rushing at Governor Denis Pasler while he was taking photos with people. 1 Min read Communities in Dagestan Remain Isolated After Floods The floods, triggered by two waves of heavy rainfall in late March and early April, killed at least seven people and displaced more than 6,200. 1 Min read Floods Prompt Evacuations in Earth’s Coldest Inhabited Settlements Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said water levels rose in three rivers, flooding the village of Oymyakon and three nearby settlements. 1 Min read Emergency Declared in Parts of Southern Russia as Drought Concerns Grow Southern Russia, Belarus and much of Ukraine remain under drought warnings, according to a late-May report by the European Drought Observatory. 2 Min read