Belarus Summons Ukrainian Envoy After Drone Strike on Belarusian Soccer Team Bus

June 18, 2026 Yegor Kovalchuk / MAX The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it summoned a senior Ukrainian diplomat to protest a deadly drone strike on a bus carrying a Belarusian youth soccer team. Belarusian and Russian authorities accused Ukraine’s military of targeting the vehicle as it traveled through Russia’s western border region of Bryansk on Wednesday. A woman accompanying the team was killed, and six others, including four teenagers, were wounded. Following the incident, federal investigators in Russia launched a terrorism probe. Russia’s Foreign Ministry denounced the attack as “another monstrous crime.” Ukraine has denied it targeted the bus and dismissed the allegations as a “provocation.” Belarusian state media reported that officials handed Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires, Ivan Novitsky, a formal note of protest, “decisively” condemning the incident as an “inhumane act of terrorism.” Authorities in Minsk demanded that Ukraine carry out an “immediate and objective investigation” into the incident and punish those responsible. They also said Belarus “reserves the right to take appropriate action in response to the Ukrainian side.” Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said he was ready to “join the transparent and impartial establishment of all the facts and circumstances of this event.” Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko maintained that the bus was attacked by a “Ukrainian drone” despite Kyiv’s claims that “the Russians themselves may have carried out such a strike.” “We aren’t going to jump to conclusions, but we’re clearly stating the fact that this drone is of Ukrainian origin,” Lukashenko said during a military briefing. He also warned that dragging Belarus into the war would “end badly for those trying to do it.” Belarus allowed Moscow to use its territory as a staging ground for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Read more about: Belarus , Ukraine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. 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. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Belarus Pardons 31 Ukrainians Under Lukashenko-Trump Pact In exchange, Washington partly lifted sanctions on Belarus' state carrier Belavia, allowing it to service and buy parts for its fleet, which includes Boeing... 1 Min read Belarus Independence 'Under Threat' by Russian Troops: Opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said that her country needed to fight "against dictatorship." Missing Belarus Dissident Found Hanged in Ukraine Park Vitaly Shishov headed the Belarusian House in Ukraine, an NGO helping his compatriots flee repression in Belarus. Russia Launches Criminal Case Against Belarussian Nationalist Russia's Investigative Committee on Tuesday launched a criminal case against Belarussian citizen Dmitry Pavlov — the leader of...