Natalia Nagovitsina. Photo: aif.ru
The rescue operation to locate Russian mountaineer Natalia Nagovitsina on Victory Peak, near the South Inylchek base camp, has officially concluded. The announcement was made by Eduard Kubatov, head of the Kyrgyzstan Mountaineering Federation.
According to him, two thorough visual inspections were carried out using a high-altitude drone. No signs of life were found, and the decision was made to end all rescue efforts.
“All rescue operations have ceased, and we must acknowledge this sorrowful fact,” Kubatov said.
Video materials from the search will be given to Nagovitsina’s son. Kubatov emphasized that the Kyrgyz side made every possible effort to organize the rescue, but the altitude of 7,200 meters, difficult weather conditions, helicopter landing problems, and the physical state of the rescuers made it impossible to achieve the desired result.
The federation head expressed gratitude to the government, the Ministry of Defense, the military, rescuers, and all participants in the operation, highlighting the contributions of private initiatives. In particular, he noted Russian television host Victoria Bonya, who financed the final drone flight over Victory Peak on September 2.
“In the history of [Victory] Peak, there has never been a successful rescue operation at 7,200 meters, and we had no right to risk the lives of rescuers any further,” Kubatov stressed.
Natalia Nagovitsina began her ascent of Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan on August 12 as part of a group of climbers. At the summit, she broke her leg and became unable to move on her own. Her partner provided first aid but was forced to descend for help. The next day, climbers from Italy and Germany reached her, bringing a sleeping bag, stove, food, and a gas canister. During the descent, Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigilia died from frostbite.
Attempts to evacuate Nagovitsina failed. On August 16, a Kyrgyz Defense Ministry helicopter made a hard landing, injuring two people. The rescue operation was then suspended due to worsening weather. A week later, the Emergency Ministry assumed she had died, and on August 27 she was officially declared missing. In 2021, her husband died on the same peak, and she stayed by his side until the end.
