Russian prosecutors have opened a criminal negligence investigation after at least six people were killed by bears in Krasnoyarsk over the past month. Authorities say the brown bear population has climbed to nearly 308,000 in 2026, and investigators blame local inaction for failing to keep predators out of inhabited areas. Officials in neighbouring Khakassia said the town of Abaza was temporarily surrounded by bears; unverified videos circulated online while the Emergency Ministry said most bears flee from people.
Russian Prosecutors Open Negligence Probe After Deadly Bear Attacks; Town Reportedly 'Under Siege'
Russia's brown bear population has more than doubled since 1990 (Irina YARINSKAYA)
Russian prosecutors said on Wednesday they have opened a criminal negligence probe after at least six people were killed in bear attacks in the vast Siberian Krasnoyarsk region over the past month.
The Investigative Committee for Krasnoyarsk and neighbouring Khakassia accused local authorities of failing to control the predator population and of not taking adequate steps to prevent bears from entering inhabited areas. The committee said local administrations had received warnings but "failed to take measures to regulate the predator population or prevent them from appearing in areas inhabited by people."
According to Russia's Natural Resources Ministry, the country’s brown bear population has risen from roughly 130,000 in 1990 to nearly 308,000 in 2026, more than doubling over the period. The ministry adds that nationwide the annual number of bear attacks has stayed roughly steady at about 20 to 30 incidents a year, but officials and regional media say local sightings and encounters have increased in some areas.
Earlier this month, the bodies of two pensioners were found mauled in a forest near the remote settlement of Podtyosovo, officials said. On Sept. 6, a 40-year-old factory worker walking through the forest was killed, local media reported. Investigators said three more people have died in the ensuing weeks; the most recent victim was a 39-year-old logger who was guarding machinery in the forest and was killed early Wednesday.
Dmitry Buchenik, deputy head of the neighbouring Khakassia region, said the taiga town of Abaza, home to about 10,000 residents, had bears "on all sides" and described an "alarming night" for the community. He said some animals were driven off and that three bears were killed, including one described as very large.
Unverified social media footage circulated online purportedly showing a bear swimming across a river beside Abaza and another clip showing three bears leaping across a road in front of vehicles. Authorities have not confirmed the provenance or timing of those clips.
Russia’s Emergency Ministry said that in the vast majority of encounters animals flee from people, a point it has reiterated amid rising concern over local bear activity. Prosecutors said their negligence probe will assess whether local officials should have implemented measures to control bear numbers and better protect residents as investigators continue to examine the recent string of fatal incidents.
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