Russia and Belarus have called on the UN to strongly and unequivocally condemn the strike on a bus carrying Belarusian children. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
Acting Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Anna Evstigneeva stated at a UN Security Council meeting that Russia demands the organization's leadership openly condemn the attack. "We demand from the UN Secretary-General, the Secretariat, and the organization's specialized structures to condemn this crime without any ambiguous discussion. Ignoring Kyiv's targeted attacks that have led to the suffering of many children is a clear manifestation of double standards, grossly violating Article 100 of the UN Charter," she said.
Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN Valentin Rybakov also called on the international community to unconditionally condemn the strike on children. "The Republic of Belarus strongly condemns this inhumane terrorist act and calls on the international community to condemn it without any conditions. We call on the UN Security Council to give a comprehensive and full legal assessment of this crime," Rybakov stated.
In his view, the strike on the bus with Belarusian citizens is aimed at escalating the conflict and dragging Belarus into the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "Those who struck the Belarusian bus did so deliberately and with provocative intent. Such actions are aimed at deliberately escalating the conflict and dragging Belarus into the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This is an attempt to increase tensions between Belarus and Ukraine and drag our country into war," he said.
On June 17, a bus traveling from Belarus to Gelendzhik was attacked by a drone in the Bryansk region. The bus carried 44 people, including 28 children. The attack killed a pregnant woman, and her husband was seriously injured. Additionally, six other people, including four children, were injured.