A brown bear went on a deadly rampage through the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on September 25, 2025, killing an 84-year-old woman and injuring a 12-year-old boy while a third man narrowly escaped death by taking refuge in a vehicle.
Security footage captured the dramatic moment when the large brown bear stalked a man walking to his car in a parking lot. The video shows the predator climbing over a wall before lunging at the victim, who managed to dive into the backseat of a nearby Toyota just as the animal pounced. The bear slammed against the car door and clawed at the vehicle, leaving deep scratches and dents on the exterior before eventually moving away.
Later that same day, the bear attacked a 12-year-old boy on Okeanskaya Street near a sports center. The animal chased the child and lunged at his backpack, causing him to fall and suffer injuries to his temple and knee. The boy survived by playing dead, remaining motionless on the ground despite his pain and fear until the bear wandered away. He then ran to seek help from the police.
The bear’s third victim was not as fortunate. An 84-year-old woman was attacked on a sports field near a nursery school close to the center of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The woman was rushed to intensive care but died from her injuries.
The regional health ministry confirmed the woman’s death, stating that officials indicated “she sustained injuries incompatible with life.” Despite resuscitation efforts, medical personnel were unable to save her. The ministry expressed condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
Following the three attacks, wildlife officers and volunteer hunters tracked down and shot the bear responsible for all the incidents. The Kamchatka Ministry of Forestry and Hunting reported that a hunter from a volunteer group killed the animal.
The attacks prompted shock and fear among residents of the regional capital, which has a population of approximately 165,000. Local authorities had failed to prevent the bear from reaching the city center, raising concerns about public safety protocols.
The incidents occurred as Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky faces ongoing problems with brown bear intrusions. At least two additional wild bears were spotted in the city, causing panic among residents. The situation has prompted authorities to deploy hunting inspectors and police marksmen throughout the city as a precautionary measure.
Local zoologists suggest the increased bear activity stems from limited natural food sources. Animals are primarily attracted to readily available food sources, including open landfills and harvests from residential garden plots. The situation may have been worsened by a lack of natural wilderness food such as berries, dwarf pine nuts, and salmon in the surrounding area.
The city has been placed on high alert following the series of attacks. Emergency services have increased patrols and are working with wildlife management teams to monitor for additional bear sightings. Residents have been advised to exercise extreme caution when moving through areas near the city’s outskirts where bears might enter urban zones.
The viral security footage showing the man’s narrow escape has been widely shared across social media platforms, highlighting the dangerous wildlife encounters that can occur in Russia’s far eastern regions. The video demonstrates the quick thinking required to survive such encounters, as the victim had only seconds to react before the bear reached him.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky serves as the capital of Russia’s Kamchatka region, located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the country’s Far East. The area is known for its large population of brown bears, which can grow to substantial sizes and pose significant threats to human populations when they venture into urban areas.
Wildlife experts note that brown bear attacks often occur when animals feel threatened or are protecting their territory. The National Park Service recommends that individuals facing brown bear encounters should leave backpacks on and play dead by lying flat on their stomachs with hands clasped behind their necks. If attacks continue, experts advise fighting back vigorously and targeting the bear’s face.
The September 25 attacks represent a significant wildlife management challenge for local authorities, who must balance public safety concerns with conservation efforts. The incident underscores the ongoing tension between urban development and wildlife habitats in Russia’s remote regions, where human-bear encounters remain a persistent threat to community safety.