The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has released an official Russian document that denies Ukrainian involvement in a drone strike on a bus in Russia’s Bryansk region, which reportedly carried Belarusian citizens. The incident, which occurred on June 17, has sparked tensions, particularly as it involved a bus transporting a youth football team.
According to the SBU, the document was intercepted during counterintelligence operations and originated from the monitoring center of the Bryansk region’s government. It states that at the time of the incident, there were no Ukrainian drones in the airspace of the area.
Key points from the intercepted report include:
- The Regional Segment of the Operational Headquarters of the Unified National Center did not detect any unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the vicinity of the incident.
- The radar battalion on duty in the Russian locality of Suponevo also confirmed the absence of drones in the area.
- Additionally, the on-duty officer from the 32nd division of the Russian army did not report any UAV flights at the relevant time.
“Thus, the SBU has grounds to believe that the strike on the bus carrying Belarusian citizens in Bryansk region is a special operation by Russian intelligence services. It is noteworthy that the aggressor country has repeatedly accused Ukraine of crimes committed by Russian representatives. Such incidents are used by the Russian authorities for their own information warfare and to exert pressure on Ukraine in the international arena,” the SBU stated.
The SBU reiterated that Ukraine and all security and defense forces strictly adhere to the laws and customs of war and operate solely against legitimate military targets.
Background on the Drone Strike Incident
On June 17, Russian authorities claimed that a bus carrying a youth football team from the Belarusian city of Rechitsa, en route to a vacation in Gelendzhik, was struck by a drone on the Gomel-Bryansk highway in Bryansk region. The attack resulted in the death of a woman and left several others injured. In total, there were 44 passengers on the bus, including 28 children.
The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed responsibility for the attack to Ukraine, demanding comprehensive explanations regarding the incident.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denied these claims, stating that the allegations from Russia do not reflect reality and are viewed as yet another information provocation from the Kremlin.
The SBU has released a Russian document denying Ukrainian involvement in a drone strike on a Belarusian bus, asserting it may be a Russian intelligence operation. The incident has heightened tensions amid ongoing conflict narratives.