Yuri Shalabaev reacted to the attack on the bus with children in the Bryansk region.

      June 17, 2026 18:05 Incidents The head of Nizhny Novgorod, Yuri Shalabaev, commented on the news about the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Bryansk region on a bus carrying a children's football team. He shared his thoughts on the incident on social media. A children's football team from Gomel, accompanied by adults, was heading to rest in Gelendzhik. In the Bryansk region, their bus was attacked by a drone; one person, a group escort, was killed, and six others were injured, including four children. There were a total of 44 people on the bus, 28 of whom were minors. The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case under the article on terrorism.

      There should have been joy upon arrival, many days of swimming in the sea, and vacations surrounded by peers... But instead, we look with pain at the photos of the shattered bus, pray for the recovery of all the injured, and wish strength to the family of the deceased to endure their loss, the mayor wrote.

      Yuri Shalabaev admitted that the news shocked him and emphasized that Nizhny Novgorod has long-standing ties with Belarus based on brotherhood, mutual respect, and support. Gomel itself is a sister city to the Volga capital.

      As always, Nizhny Novgorod is with you. There is no justification or forgiveness for those who wage war against children! the mayor declared.

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