MEMBERS of Vladimir Putin’s special forces were reportedly wiped out after a huge avalanche struck climbers in Russia’s North Caucasus.
The troops were said to be on a mountain training exercise when the huge mass of snow came hurtling down the mountain towards them.
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The avalanche struck on 16,465ft Mount Mizhirgi, with shocking video showing a terrifying wall of snow and rocks crashing down the peak.
It thundered some 3,000ft down the mountainside at 5pm on Sunday, completely engulfing climbers in the Bezengi Gorge.
At least 12 people were killed, with five more remaining missing days after the avalanche struck.
The victims were said to be members of Mad Vlad’s elite Vityaz Special Purpose troops, conducting an ice-training drill.
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Among the dead was well-known instructor Albert Izotov, 70.
The experienced mountaineer regularly trained troops at altitude in Russia’s unforgiving mountain terrain.
Another Russian National Guard member is said to be in a coma after the deadly avalanche.
News outlet Baza branded the snow slide near the border with Georgia as Russia’s “deadliest mountaineering disaster”.
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Rather than taking orders from Kremlin defence or interior ministries, the elite Russian National Guard is under Putin’s direct control.
The troops have previously been dubbed the dictator’s “private army“.
Dramatic video showed huge clouds of snow propelled into the air by the snow slide.
More than 50 emergency workers were deployed in a huge search and rescue operation.
Mi-8 helicopters are being used to scour the snowy peak for survivors, as fears are growing for the five climbers who remain missing.
But efforts were hampered by the danger of further snow slides and difficult terrain.
The cause of the avalanche is not yet known, but one theory suggested that a hanging glacier in the area had partially collapsed.
The Bezengi Gorge stretches nine miles along the Russia-Georgia border.
Mount Mizhirgi, in Kabardino-Balkaria, is one of the highest peaks in Russia‘s North Caucasus region.
It is near to Europe’s highest peak Mount Elbrus, which stands at 18,510ft.
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In January, an avalanche thundered down Mount Elbrus, engulfing an entire ski resort.
Shocking footage showed trees and cars vanishing beneath the cloud of powder as the avalanche closed in.