{"id":551868,"date":"2026-06-17T18:44:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reform.news\/?p=551868"},"modified":"2026-06-17T20:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T17:24:09","slug":"attack-on-bus-carrying-belarusian-children-in-russia-s-bryansk-region-what-is-known-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/attack-on-bus-carrying-belarusian-children-in-russia-s-bryansk-region-what-is-known-so-far","title":{"rendered":"Attack on Bus Carrying Belarusian Children in Russia’s Bryansk Region: What Is Known So Far"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.<\/p>\n

According to Russian authorities, the incident occurred on the A240 highway near the village of Rudnya in Bryansk Region. Acting regional governor Yegor Kovalchuk<\/b> said<\/a> that a drone struck a civilian bus carrying children from Belarus to a holiday destination.<\/p>\n

Initial reports said six people, including four children, were injured and one woman was killed.<\/p>\n

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Later, the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case<\/a> 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\u2013Gelendzhik route.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

As more information emerged, the number of casualties was revised. Russia’s Health Ministry reported that seven people had been hospitalised<\/a>, including one child in serious condition.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, Belarusian Health Minister Aliaksandr Khajayeu<\/b>\u00a0said that eight people had been injured in the incident<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

According to the Rechytsa District Executive Committee, the trip involved two groups of children<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n