Minsk demands explanation from Kyiv after Belarusian killed in drone attack on bus in Russia

June 17, Pozirk. The Belarusian foreign ministry has strongly condemned a drone strike on a civilian bus with members of a children’s soccer team from the Homiel region in Russia’s Bryansk province.

Seven people have been hospitalized, according to the latest reports, including one child in serious condition. The wife of a coach from the Rečyca sports school for children has been confirmed dead.

“We regard this as yet another act of terrorism against the civilian population and demand a full explanation from the Ukrainian side,” said Minsk, which supports Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The foreign ministry also warned Belarusians against traveling to conflict zones, areas of hostilities and adjacent regions, stressing the need to strictly follow procedures for organizing group travel abroad, especially for children’s health and recreation trips.

The Belarusian Investigative Committee launched a criminal investigation into the incident, noting that Belarusian investigators have already gone to Russia to assist their counterparts. Three medical teams also reportedly departed for the Bryansk province, accompanied by Belarusian traffic police and emergency workers.

Children enrolled in soccer programs in Homiel and Rečyca were on the bus, Times.by reported. The trip to Russia was organized as an annual summer retreat funded by their parents.

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in which the Belarusian authorities supported the Kremlin, allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and supplying arms to Moscow.