Ukraine's ombudsman urgently contacts Belarus over allegations of attack on bus with children
After Russia accused Ukraine of a drone attack on a bus carrying a Belarusian children's football team, Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets immediately contacted Belarus, denying involvement and suggesting a possible provocation.
On June 17, Russian officials claimed that a Ukrainian drone attacked a bus in the Bryansk region carrying a children's football team from Gomel, Belarus, which was traveling to Gelendzhik for a vacation. According to acting regional governor Yegor Kovachuk, a Belarusian woman accompanying the team was killed, and six people, including four children, were injured.
Russia's Investigative Committee opened a criminal case for a "terrorist act," and the Kremlin also called it a terrorist attack. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry demanded comprehensive explanations from Kyiv, describing the incident as "an act of terrorism against civilians."
Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated he received initial information about the incident and urgently contacted the Belarusian side. He emphasized that Ukraine has no connection to the event, as its defense forces only strike military targets, not civilian ones. Lubinets suggested it could be another provocation or information operation beneficial to Russia. He also expressed readiness to participate in a transparent and impartial investigation.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially denied using drones in the Bryansk region during the specified period. Their statement noted that Russia, unable to achieve its stated goals on the battlefield and suffering significant losses, increasingly resorts to information manipulation and fabricated accusations against Ukraine.
