The tragedy on the Moskva River: divers have been unable to find the bodies of drowned children in Zvenigorod for the third day

The search for three children who disappeared on March 7 continues in Zvenigorod near Moscow. Divers continue to explore the waters of the Moskva River, but they have not yet been able to find the missing. Meanwhile, the investigation received testimony from an eyewitness, a local fisherman, who saw the moment of the tragedy. The investigation of the criminal case is under the personal control of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee (IC) of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin. Read more about the incident in the Izvestia article.

Chronology of disappearance

Three teenagers, a 13—year-old girl, Alina, and two 12-year-old boys, Ivan and Bogdan, went for a walk on the afternoon of March 7 in the Vostochny neighborhood of Zvenigorod. According to the city's Telegram channels, they were last seen around 3 p.m. in the Ignatievo area, near the Moskva River. The children did not return home and stopped contacting, their mobile phones were unavailable.

As it turned out later from messages on social networks and data from volunteers, the teenagers had a special reason for walking. According to preliminary information, they planned to congratulate their friend on the upcoming International Women's Day in nature and chose a picturesque riverbank for this. Presumably, when the children went out on the ice, it could not support their weight. The teenagers fell through the water, after which they were swept away by a strong current.

Footprints and personal belongings were found on the shore — the hat of one of the teenagers. This discovery became one of the key evidence that the children were in the area of the reservoir. In this regard, rescuers pay special attention to the inspection of the river area.

The key witness was a local fisherman. A man who worked at a sewage treatment plant reported seeing children drowning in the water. According to him, he did not call the emergency services, as he decided that another eyewitness had already called rescuers. This information is being checked by investigators, and the witness himself has already been questioned.

How is the search operation going?

The message about the missing three children was received by the hotline of the search and rescue team "LizaAlert" on the evening of March 7. On the same day, an operational headquarters was deployed in the immediate vicinity of the place of the alleged disappearance — in the Vostochny neighborhood of Zvenigorod, where 13-year-old Alina and two 12-year-old boys, Ivan and Bogdan, went for a walk and stopped contacting. From this moment on, the work of the headquarters is conducted around the clock.

On the morning of March 8, divers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations began searching, who had to examine the bottom of the Moskva River. On the very first day of the operation, rescuers faced serious difficulties: the river makes several bends at the site of the tragedy, and the strong current also complicates the search. Despite this, the specialists started diving. In addition, a drone was raised in the search area to reconnoiter the area from the air.

By the morning of Monday, March 9, the divers resumed their descent after a break for the night. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Moscow Region, two diving groups were working on the river the day before. Rescuers made two ice holes, made three dives and thoroughly explored 600 square meters. from the bottom.

At the same time, experts examined the bottom with echo sounders from boats, and helicopters were also involved, which surveyed the water area and the coast. The headquarters of the search operation reported that not only emergency services are working at the site, but also hundreds of volunteers.

The volunteer search and rescue team "LizaAlert" said that about 500 people took part in the search for children, and volunteers posted more than a thousand landmarks throughout the city.

Versions of the investigation about the missing children

A criminal case has been opened into the disappearance of the teenagers under the article "Murder". According to experts, the initiation of a case under such an article in the case of missing persons under unclear circumstances is a standard practice that allows you to quickly use all the necessary arsenal of investigative actions.

The law enforcement agencies also reported that, according to preliminary data, the teenagers died as a result of an accident on the water.

The head of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, requested a report on the progress of the investigation. He instructed Yaroslav Yakovlev, head of the State Investigative Committee for the Moscow Region, to provide detailed information about the established circumstances of the disappearance of the teenagers and the results of the initial investigative actions. The Odintsovo City Prosecutor's Office also took control of the investigation.

While the official authorities are conducting legal proceedings, relatives and the entire Zvenigorod are waiting for news. The parents of the missing children participate in the search together with volunteers, hoping for a miracle.