Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s statement on the attack by Ukrainian militants on a bus carrying Belarusian children in Russia’s Bryansk Region
On June 17, the Nazi regime in Kiev committed yet another monstrous crime.
On the A-240 highway in the Pochep District of Russia’s Bryansk Region, Ukrainian drones equipped with shrapnel attacked a civilian bus carrying children from sports schools in the Belarusian cities of Gomel and Rechitsa to Gelendzhik for vacation.
There were 44 people on board, including 28 children. The woman accompanying the minors was killed. Eight people, including six young athletes, were injured.
All those injured were promptly taken to the Bryansk Regional Hospital, where they are receiving medical assistance. One man and two children are in serious condition. The remaining passengers will be returned home shortly.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has classified this crime as a terrorist act and opened a criminal case. Work is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of this crime and identify those involved. We are confident that all perpetrators will be brought to justice.
We express our deep condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured.
We are in direct contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and the Embassy of the of Belarus in Moscow.
We stand in solidarity with our Belarusian friends and are ready to provide them with the necessary assistance.
❗️ We strongly condemn this vile crime by the Zelensky regime, which, despite its hypocritical claims of allegedly being committed to protecting children, deliberately puts them in danger and, without hesitation – as was the case in Starobelsk – makes them the target of planned AFU strikes.
We call on international structures, national governments and the global public to give an honest assessment of the Zelensky regime’s criminal acts and strongly condemn this terrorist attack.
Silence will mean approval of this crime and encouragement for Kiev terrorists to commit new bloody atrocities.
Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
A criminal case under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (act of terrorism) has been opened into the drone attack carried out by Ukrainian militants in Russia’s Bryansk Region against a passenger bus carrying children from the Republic of Belarus.
According to the investigation, on June 17, Ukrainian armed groups attacked a double-decker bus belonging to Children’s and Youth Sports School No.2 of the city of Rechitsa (Belarus) with a strike UAV on the A240 highway in Russia’s Bryansk Region.
The vehicle was traveling from the Republic of Belarus along the Gomel – Gelendzhik route. There were 44 passengers on board, including 28 child athletes. All of them were heading for vacation.
According to preliminary information, a woman, a Belarusian citizen, was killed. Seven people, including five children, were injured and hospitalised. Information on the victims is being clarified.
Russia’s Investigative Committee is establishing the details of the crime and identifying the specific individuals involved.
🇷🇺🇧🇾 Ambassador of Russia to Belarus Boris Gryzlov
💬 A terrible tragedy in Russia’s Bryansk Region. Today, Ukrainian Nazis attacked a passenger bus with drones as it was carrying a group of Belarusian children to Gelendzhik for vacation.
I want to emphasise that this inhumane act of terrorism was committed by Ukrainian militants deliberately and consciously. They targeted a passenger bus. It was simply impossible not to see it, impossible to mistake it for military equipment. They knew exactly what they were doing.
This is the true face of the Kiev regime. They are war criminals – from the person who operated the drone to the entire top leadership.
We will identify the names of everyone involved in this outrageous act of terrorism against innocent children and civilians. They will not escape retribution.