An impenetrable mystery: neural networks and an unmanned complex have been connected to the search for the Usoltsevs

Autonomous groups with UAVs have joined the search for the Usoltsev family, which has resumed in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and the results of aerial photography in search of clues are being processed using neural networks, the LizaAlert detachment told Izvestia. The search engines use a complex with a drone and a specially equipped car, which allows the pilot and analyst to work on the ground even offline — for up to three days. Over the past two days, the UAV has flown 337 km and taken more than 13,500 pictures. Attention is focused on areas that did not have time to thoroughly inspect last year. What are the chances that the Usoltsevs will be found — in the Izvestia article.

How to find a family

More than 13,500 photographs of the taiga were taken over the past two days by a modern unmanned complex, which the LizaAlert detachment deployed after resuming the search for the Usoltsev family. All of them are processed by a neural network in search of clues that can help search engines, Serafima Chodu, a representative of LizaAlert, told Izvestia. These are so—called artifacts - any material traces, things and objects of a missing person.

"Photogrammetry assumes that the drone takes pictures of the area at specified coordinates: each frame overlaps the neighboring ones, resulting in a densely captured surface, and each suspicious object is captured from several angles," she explained.

According to Serafim Choodu, aerial photography is carried out in places that did not have time to thoroughly inspect during the active phase of the search last year, as well as in winter due to the large amount of snow. Now the snow has melted in some places, but in some it still remains quite deep, higher than human height. As soon as he gets off, hiking groups will also start searching. They will also use the information currently being received from the drone.

The latest equipment used by LizaAlert specialists was obtained from the Missing Persons Search Center of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. This is an unmanned complex that includes a DJI Matrice 400 drone and a specially equipped vehicle that allows the pilot and analyst to work autonomously for up to three days. In addition to them, the autonomous group also includes a coordinator, a signalman and a cartographer.

The LizaAlert detachment announced the resumption of the search for the mysteriously missing Usoltsev family on May 24. In two days, the total flight track exceeded 337 km.

Disappeared without a trace

The family from Zheleznogorsk disappeared without a trace on September 28, 2025. Sergey Usoltsev, his wife Irina and their five-year-old daughter Arina went on a hiking trip in the area of Mount Pinocchio in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. They had planned to return in a few hours, but five days later they had not contacted their relatives.

About 400 people took part in the large-scale search operation, including volunteers, law enforcement officers and rescuers. They surveyed almost 130 square kilometers of taiga. Searches were also conducted from the air using an airplane, a paraglider and a drone. Only a few leads were found during the entire time, the operation was completed due to weather conditions on October 12, 2025. The search for the family was resumed on January 30 and 31, the regional rescue service reported. However, they also passed to no avail.

According to relatives, the head of the family was well-versed in the forest and mountains, regularly went on long hikes and was an experienced tourist.

According to the priority version of the regional Investigative Committee, the cause of the disappearance of the Usoltsevs was an accident. They suggest that the head of the family could become ill, and the woman and the child could not get out of the taiga on their own. The second option is that tourists get lost trying to escape from wild animals.

According to another version, the family could get lost because of the fog. After the weather worsened, the forest was covered with a thick veil. It was almost impossible to navigate in such conditions, even for an experienced tourist.

Chances of success

The search for missing people is resumed after a long time, if there are good reasons for this, security expert Alexander Starostin explained to Izvestia.

"So there are some clues, perhaps the results of aerial photography," he said.

The expert explained that with the help of a UAV, it is possible to see signs of life in a wild environment — for example, a built hut, as well as living people or their remains.

Rescuer Denis Kiselyov also suggests that the family may be hiding in the taiga, or they have already died and rescuers are looking for remains.

— There are, for example, Old Believers who go to the taiga and live there for years. They could also have a pre—prepared shelter with supplies, where they wanted to hide from everyone," he said.

The expert stressed that it is impossible to survive in the taiga in winter without additional supplies.

— We can really assume an accident. They could unsuccessfully hide in some crevice and meet their end there," Denis Kiselyov said.

Last year, traces of the missing family could not be found due to the snowfall. It is unlikely to find new evidence in six months, he believes.

— Wildlife, animals, winter, of course, are doing their job. Nevertheless, there is a chance to find some traces, remains," Denis Kiselyov noted.

Denis Kiselyov also stressed that people regularly disappear without a trace in the wilderness. So, according to the rescuer, only in the mountains such cases occur about once every two years.