Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

These three adorable boys aged between 11 and 13 have fallen through the ice and drowned while trying to cross a frozen river.

The incident took place at Iput River in the town of Surazh in the district of Surazhsky located in the western Russian region of Bryansk Oblast.

Two of the victims, 13-year-old Matvey Romanenko and 12-year-old Igor Moschenok, attended the town’s School No.1 while 11-year-old Nikita Mirny studied at School No.2, according to local media.

Moschenok’s mother is a German teacher, according to reports.

Local media said that the emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 9.40pm when three bodies were discovered by the banks of the Iput River by the father of one of the victims.

The authorities sent a 22-person team to the scene, including paramedics, firefighters and local officials.

A town ceremony to honour the three young victims was attended by loved ones, teachers, classmates and local residents, according to reports.

Following a preliminary investigation, it is believed the schoolchildren were trying to cross the river, but ended up falling through the thin ice.

The investigation into the tragic deaths is ongoing.

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