A bus carrying a Belarusian youth football team was struck by a drone on June 17 in Russia's Bryansk region, killing a woman traveling with the team and injuring multiple children and adults, Russian officials said [1, 2, 3].
The bus had 44 passengers, including 28 children. It was en route from Gomel in Belarus to Gelendzhik, a resort city in Russia [1, 3]. The woman killed was a staff member or chaperone accompanying the group [1, 2, 3].
Russian acting governor Yegor Kovalchuk said, "As a result of the targeted strike, a woman accompanying the team was killed. Six people were wounded, including four children. All the injured were promptly taken to the hospital, where they received the necessary medical care" [2]. A Chinese source reported seven injured, including five children [3].
Russia accused Ukraine of conducting the drone strike [1, 2, 3]. Russian investigators opened a terrorism case into the incident [1, 3]. Russian authorities have also accused Ukraine of previous drone attacks on buses in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine [1].
Ukraine's General Staff denied carrying out any drone attacks in the Bryansk Oblast during the relevant period. They said, "During the specified period, the Defence Forces of Ukraine did not employ unmanned aerial vehicles against targets in Bryansk Oblast," calling the Russian claim false [1, 3].
The incident underscored rising tensions along the Russia-Ukraine border. The investigation by Russian authorities continues as officials seek more details about the drone strike.
The bus was traveling today when it was struck, and Russian authorities have vowed to pursue the terrorism investigation.
