Two men who set out for an evening walk with their dogs during a snowstorm on 30 December remain missing in the forested area near dacha plots in the Lomonosovsky District of the Leningrad Region, rescuers have confirmed.
Two men missing in Leningrad
Rescue teams from the volunteer search-and-rescue unit Extremum reported the pair had not returned and launched operations shortly after their disappearance was noticed. Six search groups are currently scouring the adjacent woodland but, at the time of reporting, have found no trace of the men.
Rescuers said conditions were challenging: falling snow reduced visibility and hampered movement across the uneven, tree-covered terrain. Teams are dividing the search area into sectors and coordinating with local volunteers to cover paths leading to and from the dacha settlements where the walk began.
Search leaders emphasised the importance of swift action in winter conditions. Hypothermia and disorientation present significant risks to anyone who becomes separated from their companions, especially at night and during snowfall. Teams are using mapped routes, calling out to the missing men and inspecting likely shelters and tracks where dogs may have led them.
Officials have urged local residents to check outbuildings, sheds and nearby tracks and to report any sightings or fresh footprints to the rescue coordination centre immediately. Vehicle convoys and foot patrols continue around the clock while weather permits.
The incident has renewed attention on several recent survival stories in Russia’s forests that shaped current search practices. In August, a woman and her son who had become lost while picking berries in Karelia were found after five days; they had remained in one place and kept fires burning to attract help. In another August case, an elderly man in Yakutia was located after surviving on berries and rainwater for several days. Authorities say those cases highlight both the dangers of venturing into remote woodland and the value of early, well-coordinated searches.
Local rescue organisers stress simple precautions for anyone going into forested areas during winter: inform friends or family of planned routes and expected return times, take fully charged mobile phones and portable power banks, carry warm clothing and signalling equipment such as a whistle or torch, and avoid travelling alone if possible. Dogs can provide early warning and companionship but may also lead owners off marked tracks.
Members of Extremum and municipal emergency services are continuing systematic searches through the night where conditions allow. Drone teams are on standby to deploy when visibility and weather improve, and firefighters have been briefed to coordinate should their help be required.
Relatives of the missing men are cooperating with authorities. At present there is no indication of foul play; the focus of rescuers remains on locating the pair and ensuring they receive prompt medical attention if found. The rescue unit asked anyone with information to contact the local emergency number and to avoid entering the search area without coordinating with officials, to prevent accidental interference with rescue operations.
As searches continue, local authorities reiterated the need for caution during winter recreation and for better preparation when walking near woodland and dacha plots, particularly during adverse weather.
Key Takeaways:
- Two men who were walking with dogs went missing during a snowstorm on the evening of 30 December near dachas in Lomonosovsky District, Leningrad Region.
- Six search-and-rescue teams from the Extremum unit are combing the surrounding woodland; no sign of the men has been reported yet.
- Authorities and rescuers are drawing on previous regional cases of lost persons to guide search tactics and public warnings.
