Russian officials have confirmed the deaths of four people as a result of a vessel collision incident on the Volga River near the city of Cheboksary in the country's Chuvashia region on Sunday, June 12.
The incident occurred when a skiff with four people on board struck the inland tug Kolomensky 803 shortly after 00:00 local time on Sunday.
As a result of the impact, the skiff suffered extensive bow damage and all four of its occupants were killed. The tug, meanwhile, sustained no noticeable damage, nor did any of its crew suffer injuries.
Eyewitnesses said the smaller skiff had attempted to cut across the tug's bow but instead ended up colliding with it.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation to determine all possible safety violations that led to the incident.