A bus carrying Belarusian citizens en route to Gelendzhik, Russia, was attacked in the Bryansk region, with reports of the incident surfacing on June 17. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has denied any connection to the attack, stating that no drones were deployed in the area at that time. Despite this, both Russian and Belarusian officials have blamed Ukraine for the strike.
Recent statements from Belarusian officials differ significantly from prior comments regarding the incident. “Regardless of whose bus it is—Belarusian, Russian, or from another state—it is a bus filled with civilians. However, those responsible for the attack aimed to create a pretext to incite conflict between Belarus and Ukraine, trying to provoke a negative situation,” remarked the state secretary.
He added that President Alexander Lukashenko is closely monitoring the situation, having issued proper directives. Belarusian security services and the investigative committee are conducting a thorough investigation and analyzing all details surrounding the event. Witnesses and passengers from the bus have already been questioned.
“There are already certain moments that will be reported to the head of state. A decision will be made. However, involving Belarus in the conflict will not succeed. We are for peace, prudence, and resolving all issues through diplomatic means,” concluded Volfovich.
On June 18, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that during counter-intelligence operations, it obtained an official Russian document denying Ukrainian involvement in the bus attack. The document, from the monitoring center of the State Institution of the Bryansk region, stated that there were no Ukrainian drones in the airspace at the time of the incident.
Context
- Following the bus attack, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it regarded the incident as “another act of terrorism against peaceful civilians” and demanded comprehensive explanations from Ukraine. Dmitry Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Human Rights Commissioner, promptly contacted Belarusian officials, emphasizing that Ukraine had no connection to the incident.
- On June 18, Lukashenko claimed that the bus containing Belarusian children was allegedly attacked by a drone of Ukrainian origin. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry summoned the temporary chargé d’affaires of Ukraine, Ivan Novytskyi, delivering a note of protest.
