Изображение: t.me/CabinetBelarus
The United Transitional Cabinet has issued a statement regarding the incident involving a bus carrying Belarusian children in Russia’s Bryansk region.
The bus carrying Belarusian children travelling to the Russian resort city of Gelendzhik was attacked, reportedly by a drone, in Russia’s Bryansk region on June 17. One woman accompanying the group was killed, while eight people, including six children, were injured. Moscow says the bus was attacked by a Ukrainian drone. Kyiv rejects the accusation and describes the incident as an information provocation.
The United Transitional Cabinet expressed its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the woman who was killed, as well as to all those affected. It also wished a speedy recovery to the injured and called for them to receive all necessary medical and psychological assistance.
“We draw particular attention to the regrettable fact that a group of Belarusian children was in a region directly bordering an active combat zone and regularly exposed to threats associated with the armed conflict.
Children must not become hostages of war, propaganda or political manipulation. The safety of citizens, especially minors, must be an unconditional priority for all those involved in organizing such trips.
Responsible Belarusian officials should provide a public explanation of who made the decision, and why, to organize trips for Belarusian children’s groups through territories and regions located in close proximity to the armed conflict zone.
We also call on Belarusians to refrain from visiting the Russian Federation and the occupied territories of Ukraine that are located in close proximity to the epicenter of hostilities, as this may pose a threat to the health and safety of Belarusian citizens and their children.
Given the existence of organized tourist trips from Belarus, we would also like to draw attention to the fact that unauthorized visits to the occupied territories of Ukraine by citizens of the Republic of Belarus via Russian territory may have legal consequences for them on the part of the Ukrainian state.
The United Transitional Cabinet is monitoring developments closely and strongly condemns the use of this incident as an information provocation against Ukraine aimed at shaping public opinion among citizens of the Republic of Belarus. Full responsibility for such incidents lies with the aggressor state, the Russian Federation, and with those individuals who failed to take adequate care of the safety of the Belarusian children and their chaperones,” the statement said.