Story perspectives

Penguins’ Kyle Dubas to Support Kuzmenko’s Family After Attack

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 11:06 PM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

Andrei Kuzmenko left camp after his father, Alexander, was killed in a bear attack.
The attack occurred on Sept. 23 in Tuva, Siberia while Alexander Kuzmenko fished.
He died after a bear bit his head and was airlifted to Kyzyl.
Penguins president Kyle Dubas said will support his family after he practiced and flew to Moscow.
He signed a one-year $5 million contract on July 1 and will miss the 2026-27 season start.

History

Historical Context

Fatal bear attacks have been recorded across North America for decades, such as the 2017 killing of Erin Johnson at Alaska’s Pogo mine and the 2019 death of Catherine Sweatt-Mueller on Canada’s Rainy Lake. Those incidents resulted in wildlife officers killing the bears, a precedent that informs today’s calls for similar protections in remote Russian regions.

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Story summary

Andrei Kuzmenko left camp after his father, Alexander, was killed in a bear attack.
The attack occurred on Sept. 23 in Tuva, Siberia while Alexander Kuzmenko fished.
He died after a bear bit his head and was airlifted to Kyzyl.
Penguins president Kyle Dubas said will support his family after he practiced and flew to Moscow.
He signed a one-year $5 million contract on July 1 and will miss the 2026-27 season start.

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