The body of 8-year-old Khizir Derbichev, swept away by the current of the Sunzha River in Ingushetia, was found on the eighth day of a massive search operation.

The child went missing on June 15 on the banks of the Sunzha River near the village of Yandare in the Nazran District. Khizir was relaxing with friends when one of them fell into the raging current. The boy managed to cling to a branch but was unable to escape on his own. Khizir jumped into the water to help his friend. Adults soon arrived and rescued the child, but Khizir himself was swept downriver by the rapid current.

For eight days, rescuers and thousands of volunteers from across the North Caucasus surveyed the riverbed and the surrounding area, clearing silt deposits and debris. Dog handlers and divers were involved in the search, and aerial monitoring was conducted using a drone. The search area was expanded to the Chechen Republic, where local services were also involved.

The body of a boy was found in Ingushetia today, the republic's Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. Akhmed Yevloyev, head of the Crisis Management Center, officially announced the completion of the search and rescue operation.