{"id":192438,"date":"2026-06-18T16:44:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/192438\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T16:47:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T13:47:57","slug":"belarusian-diplomats-instructed-to-blame-bus-drone-strike-on-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/192438\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarusian diplomats instructed to blame bus drone strike on Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n \n
\n (mfa.gov.by)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 18, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>The foreign ministry has instructed all Belarusian diplomatic missions abroad to spread information that a Ukrainian combat drone was responsible for yesterday\u2019s drone attack on a Belarusian bus with children in Russia, said Rus\u0142an Varanko\u016d, the ministry\u2019s spokesman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident in Russia\u2019s Bryansk province that claimed one life and left several wounded \u201cwill not remain solely within the realm of bilateral relations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attack was \u201cdeliberate,\u201d targeting a civilian bus with minors that was \u201cnot a military target or collateral damage,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Belarusian side intends to ensure that this egregious act receives an appropriate international response. It is essential that the international community does not remain silent, but instead directly and unequivocally condemns such terrorist methods,\u201d Varanko\u016d stressed. \u201cBelarus will not allow the deaths of civilians and the suffering of our children to go unnoticed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier today, Belarus\u2019 foreign ministry summoned Ivan Novytski, Ukraine\u2019s charge d\u2019affaires, to hand a note of protest in connection with a deadly drone attack on a Belarusian bus in Russia on June 17. While warning against drawing premature conclusions, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka also blamed the strike on a Ukrainian drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two passenger buses departed from Re\u010dyca for Russia\u2019s Gelendzhik early on Wednesday morning, carrying a total of about 90 people, including 41 children. Around 11:00 a.m., a passenger informed the city authorities about a drone attack in the Bryansk province. The bus that was hit reportedly carried 43 passengers, of whom 28 were children enrolled in soccer programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six passengers, including five children, were wounded, while Viktoryja Haro\u0161ka, the wife of a coach from the Re\u010dyca sports school for children, was confirmed dead. Originally from Ukraine, the woman resided in Belarus for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trip to Russia was organized as an annual summer retreat funded by their parents. Usually, a different route was used, the Homiel Regional Soccer Federation told Onliner<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied Ukrainian forces\u2019 involvement, saying the army did not employ unmanned aerial vehicles against targets in Russia\u2019s Bryansk province when the bus was hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"