The number of bear attacks on people in Russia in 2026 is not abnormal: about 20-30 such incidents are recorded annually in recent years. An abnormal spike occurred in 2014, when 166 attacks were reported, the Russian Natural Resources Ministry's press service told TASS.

At the same time, Russia's brown bear population has grown from 182,000 to 308,000 over the past 15 years, Natural Resources Ministry official Tatyana Aramileva said at a TASS news conference. TASS estimates that bears have approached populated areas or appeared on city and village streets in 41 Russian regions in 2026.