Missing Odesa associate professor found dead in the mountains of Transcarpathia

The body of Oleksiy Khodakov, an associate professor at Odesa National Technological University, was found in the forest of the Turbat tract, near Mount Matiyaska in Tyachiv district, Zakarpattia region.

This was reported by Zaxid.net with reference to Vitaliy Glagola, a member of the Uzhhorod City Council.

The scientist's body was found by another tourist and has now been sent for examination. However, Vitaliy Glagola noted that the deceased has already been identified.

Rescuers of the State Emergency Service have been searching for Oleksiy Khodakov, an associate professor at Odesa National Technological University, who disappeared while hiking in the mountains in Zakarpattia region since the end of February.

The scientist arrived on February 14 and started hiking from Dragobrat. He was well equipped. In addition, the route is popular and considered safe. Oleksiy Khodakov also has many years of experience in mountain travel.

His phone was later found in the village of Berezovo, which is located off the route. He last accessed the Internet in the evening of February 17, after which his whereabouts are unknown. A missing persons report was filed with the police.

This is not the first time that tourists from Odesa have gotten lost in the Carpathians in winter. In 2022, in January, the Rescue Service received a report that four tourists, three men and a woman, all from Odesa, had gotten lost near Mount Petros. The tourists went on a hike despite the fact that the rescuers had urged them to abandon the trip due to bad weather conditions during registration. At the same time, the tourists managed to climb Petros, but when they went down, they lost their way due to poor visibility and heavy rainfall and got lost.

In December 2021, three men went missing while snowmobiling. Two reached a recreation center, and the third, from Odesa, was later found dead. The rescuers then used a helicopter to search for them.

Кирило Бойко