New York, USA – The United Nations announced that the Security Council is scheduled to hold a special session next Monday, June 29, to discuss the repercussions of the attack by a Ukrainian drone on a bus carrying Belarusian children. The incident has sparked international condemnation and calls for an investigation.
Details of the emergency session
Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Anna Yevstigneyeva, confirmed to the Russian news agency Sputnik that the Security Council presidency had responded to Minsk’s request, with Moscow’s full support, to convene an emergency meeting to discuss this serious violation. This move comes as Belarus seeks to highlight what it described as a “deliberate attack” against unarmed civilians inside Russian territory.
The tragic attack
The incident dates back to June 17, when the acting governor of Bryansk Oblast, Igor Kovalchuk, announced that Ukrainian forces had targeted a bus carrying a children’s football team from the Belarusian region of Gomel with a drone. The children were on their way to spend their summer vacation in the Russian city of Gelendzhik. However, the trip turned into a tragedy; the attack killed one woman and injured eight others, including six children. The incident sparked widespread shock in both official and public circles in Moscow and Minsk.
Demanding an international stance
Yevstigneyeva described the attack on the bus as a “deliberate targeting of Belarusian civilians and citizens.” She also stated that this act violated the rules of engagement and warranted a firm international response. She affirmed that Russia fully supports Belarusian diplomatic efforts within the United Nations to condemn this type of military operation, which clearly targets the most vulnerable.
Monday’s session is expected to feature heated debates regarding the nature of drone attacks and their impact on civilian security in conflict zones. This comes amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and the increasing frequency of airstrikes targeting civilian areas in recent weeks.
