In the Kostroma region, the body of Aristarkh Ukhtomsky, a 28-year-old musician who disappeared after a drowning incident at the end of March, was located. He was among friends connected to Dmitry Svirgunov, the founder of the Cream Soda project, who also died under similar circumstances on the Volga. Local investigators in the Yaroslavl region reported that a body matching his description was carried by the river current into a neighboring area after being missing since March 20. The discovery is being processed by the regional Investigative Committee, with relatives invited to participate in the identification procedure. The body located near the Dievo-Gorodishche settlement in Nekrasovsky district, Yaroslavl region, was confirmed as Ukhtomsky after a forensic comparison by authorities.
Ukhtomsky, who studied music and was known for performing at vibrant, unconventional events, was a member of the Any Act group, a collective that has roots in techno music. This information was reported by the local portal 76.RU, which cited official statements from regional authorities. The ongoing search teams continue to comb the area in hopes of locating another missing person, Roman Svirgunov, born in 1997. He is the brother of Dmitry Svirgunov, whose body was recovered from the Volga in the hours following the incident. The searches are conducted by divers and emergency services under the supervision of Nekrasovsky district authorities, with authorities noting the difficulties posed by strong currents.
According to official details, on the night of March 20, Dmitry, his brother Roman, two friends, and their girlfriend Valeria Derman attempted to cross the icy Volga by foot to celebrate Dmitry’s birthday. The ice broke about 350 meters from the shore, plunging the group into the river. The river current was exceptionally swift at that time. Valeria managed to escape and was helped to safety at the edge of the ice, while the others were pulled under. Georgy Kiselev, aged 27, clung to the surface but succumbed to hypothermia despite two hours of resuscitation attempts by medical crews. The Nekrasovsky district administration confirmed the dramatic sequence of events and the resulting fatalities.
In a conversation with a Russian outlet, the father of Andrey, Dmitry, and Roman Svirgunov refuted a media claim that the crossing followed a family tradition. He emphasized that the parents were unaware of any plans for the group to attempt such a crossing and suggested that the event was an accident rather than a planned extreme activity. The family notes include three children, with a younger brother named Denis who was not present at the gathering because he was still in school. The tragedy has left fans of Cream Soda reflecting on the loss, with many remembering Dmitry Svirgunov through a song released in 2017 that fans affectionately call the Volga piece. The track has been interpreted by listeners as prophetic after the leader’s death, with comments from fans expressing sorrow and solidarity in response to the news. The posts and comments on social platforms reflect a shared sense of grief and a public outpouring of tributes for the late musician and his circle.
As investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events, the community of fans and supporters remains hopeful that additional missing individuals will be located safely. The case has drawn attention to safety concerns around winter river crossings and the inherent dangers of crossing ice in unpredictable conditions. Investigative authorities are coordinating with regional search and rescue teams, and closer reassessments of the circumstances surrounding the incident are expected as part of ongoing inquiries. The public is reminded to exercise caution near fast-moving rivers and to rely on official guidance when confronted with dangerous ice or water conditions. Citations: official statements from the Investigative Committee for the Yaroslavl and Kostroma regions, regional news outlets including 76.RU, and contemporaneous reports regarding the Cream Soda group and its leadership. Attribution: 76.RU, Investigative Committee regional offices.