Rescue โEfforts Halted for stranded โrussian Climber on Peak Lenin
A โrescue operationโข for Russian alpinist Natalya Nagovitsina hasโข been suspended on Peak Lenin in Kyrgyzstan after over tenโ days, due to deteriorating weather conditions. Nagovitsinaโ has been stranded with a broken leg at an altitude of approximately 7,200 meters since August 12th.
Rescuers from โคthe Kyrgyz Ministry for Emergency Situations reached a height of 6,100 โคmeters before being forced to halt their ascent. A spokesperson for the ministry statedโ that continuing the operation is currently impossible due to theโฃ severe conditionsโค and offered no firm timeline for a resumption, โcitingโฃ dependence on future weather โขchanges.Dmitry Grekov,โ head โof the Southern Iryฤek Glacier,โข explained that while the climber’s location is known, access isโ extremely challenging.โฃ Evacuation would โคrequire a helicopter capable of โoperating at โextreme altitudes, a โcapability Kyrgyzstan โcurrently lacks. A ministry official indicated that favorable weather โฃconditionsโค are unlikely for โthe remainder of the year, suggestingโข the next potential rescue โwindowโ mayโค not arrive until the summer of 2026.
Nagovitsina sustained โthe injury โduring a โขdescent following a successful summit attempt, breaking her leg during a snowstorm. Her climbing โcompanion provided initial first aid, left essential suppliesโ including a tent and sleeping bag, and descended to seek help. Other expedition members have continued to deliver food, โคwater,โข and a cookerโ to โขher location.
The situation โis especiallyโ poignantโ as Nagovitsina climbed despite the lossโ of her โฃhusband, Sergei Nagovitsina, whoโค died in 2021โค on nearby Chan Tengri.
Tragically, the โฃrescue effort has been further complicated โbyโค another fatality.โ Italian climber Luca Sinigagliaโ died โฃat โคaroundโค 6,900 โฃmeters โฃwhile attempting to reach Nagovitsina,โ succumbing to cerebral edema. His โbody remains on the mountain.
The rescue attemptโข involved eight experienced climbers and a Mi-8 โฃhelicopter from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense. Footage from local climber Ilima Karypbekov shows the team reachingโ 6,100 meters before being stoppedโ by โstrong winds, heavy snow, and frigid temperatures.Peak โLenin isโค known as a particularly challenging mountain, โขhaving claimed โคover 80 lives. โA 2004 avalanche in โฃthe area resulted โฃinโ the deaths โof fiveโข Czech โclimbers, along with colleagues โขfrom Russia and Ukraine.