A bus carrying Belarusian children on their way to the Russian resort city of Gelendzhik was attacked, reportedly by a drone, in Russia’s Bryansk Region on June 17. A woman accompanying the group was killed and eight people, including six children, were injured. Moscow says the bus was struck by a Ukrainian drone, while Kyiv rejects the accusation and describes the incident as an information provocation. There is currently no independent confirmation of either side’s claims.
According to Russian authorities, the incident occurred on the A240 highway near the village of Rudnya in Bryansk Region. Acting regional governor Yegor Kovalchuk said that a drone struck a civilian bus carrying children from Belarus to a holiday destination.
Initial reports said six people, including four children, were injured and one woman was killed.
Later, the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under a terrorism article. The agency said a Ukrainian drone had struck a bus belonging to Rechytsa Youth Sports School No. 2 that was travelling on the Homiel–Gelendzhik route.
According to the initial version presented by Russian investigators, the bus was carrying 44 passengers, including 28 child athletes. All were travelling for a holiday trip. Russian authorities said a woman accompanying the group was killed and several other passengers were injured.
As more information emerged, the number of casualties was revised. Russia’s Health Ministry reported that seven people had been hospitalised, including one child in serious condition.
Subsequently, Belarusian Health Minister Aliaksandr Khajayeu said that eight people had been injured in the incident, including six minors. According to him, two children are in serious condition and one is in intensive care. Belarusian medical teams were dispatched to Bryansk Region to assess whether the injured could be transported to Belarus.
According to the Rechytsa District Executive Committee, the trip involved two groups of children. A total of 88 people, including 41 children, were travelling to Gelendzhik. Among them were 28 pupils from Rechytsa District Youth Sports School No. 2 and 13 children from a private dance studio. One of the buses, carrying 43 people, came under attack.
Belarusian and Russian media reported that the woman killed in the attack was the wife of a coach at the Rechytsa sports school and was accompanying the children’s team. The coach himself was also injured. The Rechytsa District Executive Committee said the coach had been hospitalised in serious condition.
What Is Known About the Victim
The woman killed in the attack was 44-year-old Viktoryia Hrytsenka (Haroshka), a native of Luhansk and the wife of Aliaksei Haroshka, a coach at Rechytsa District Youth Sports School No. 2.
Aliaksei Haroshka has worked at the sports school for many years. His teams have regularly participated in regional and national competitions and have won prizes in numerous tournaments.
According to information on social media, Viktoryia Hrytsenka listed Luhansk as her hometown. However, she spent much of her life in Belarus. According to BelPol, she previously worked as a hairdresser and later as a sales assistant, Nasha Niva reported.
She is survived by twin daughters, both 21 years old.
Reaction From Minsk
Belarus’ Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on the bus and described it as an “act of terrorism against civilians”. The ministry demanded explanations from Ukraine.
At the same time, it stressed the need to avoid organising trips for citizens, especially children, to conflict zones and adjacent areas.
The Belarusian Football Federation said it had informed UEFA and FIFA about the incident and had initiated an investigation through the relevant bodies. The federation’s statement said the attack had been carried out “by the Armed Forces of Ukraine”.
Reaction of the Democratic Forces
Belarusian democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed condolences to the families of the victim and the injured.
At the same time, she placed primary responsibility on Russia as the country that launched the full-scale war against Ukraine. Tsikhanouskaya also said Belarusian officials bore responsibility for allowing children to travel through an area close to a combat zone.
She urged Belarusians not to travel to Russia, arguing that security would only be possible once the war ends.
Ukraine Rejects the Accusations
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine rejected allegations of involvement in the attack.
The Ukrainian military said no drones were used against targets in Bryansk Region during the period in question.
Kyiv described the Russian allegations as an “information provocation by the Kremlin” and said Russia increasingly resorts to information manipulation and fabricated accusations against Ukraine. The General Staff stressed that Ukrainian forces strike only legitimate military targets.
What Remains Unknown
At present, there is no independent evidence establishing the origin of the drone or the circumstances of the strike.
Russian authorities maintain that the bus was hit by a Ukrainian drone. However, at the time of publication, no independent expert findings, objective monitoring data or other evidence had been presented to substantiate this claim beyond official statements.
The Ukrainian side, meanwhile, categorically denies any involvement and says the incident may have been an information provocation.
What has been independently established is that a bus carrying Belarusian children was damaged in Russia’s Bryansk Region, one woman was killed and several children and adults were injured.
