Ukrainian Drone Strike Targets Bus Carrying Belarusian Youth Soccer Team in Bryansk Region, Killing 1

A Ukrainian drone struck a bus in the western Bryansk region on Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring several others, including children from a Belarusian youth soccer team, Russian authorities said.

Acting Bryansk Governor Yegor Kovalchuk said a woman was killed and six people were hospitalized following the attack. He said the group of youth soccer players from the Gomel region of neighboring Belarus had been returning from a vacation in southern Russia.

The Investigative Committee, Russia’s investigative body, said it launched a criminal investigation into the incident, which it is treating as an act of terrorism.

According to federal investigators, 44 passengers were inside the double-decker bus when the drone struck, 28 of whom were children.

There was no immediate comment on the incident from authorities in Belarus or Ukraine.

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once

Monthly

Annual

Continue

Not ready to support today?

Remind me later.