14 Russian pilgrims were killed and 22 were seriously injured after a bus crush on the road between Chernigov and Kiev, Ukraine, the Emergencies Ministry said.

      The bus was carrying 45 passengers from Central Russia’s Pskov Region to the Ukraine’s Pochayiv Lavra Monastery. Such weekend trips are usual for Russian believers who spend their summer time visiting different churches, monasteries and holy sites. According to preliminary data, the bus with pilgrims was riding on a straight road when suddenly swerved off the road crashing into a ditch. 

      According to one of the investigation’s preliminary versions, the accident took place as the driver had fallen asleep eventually losing control of the vehicle. However, both the driver and his assistant said the bus had been cut by a white car. They tried to avoid the stroke but ran into the ditch. Both version are under investigation right now.

      Russian Emergencies Ministry has already sent several special aircrafts for operative bringing of the most seriously injured people to the Russian and Ukrainian central hospitals. According to the spokesman for the ministry said that one of the planes, Ilyushin Il-76, brought 14 people, who suffered serious injuries. The plane was met by 20 ambulance engines, which immediately took the injured to various hospitals of Moscow.

      Today, on July 9, Russia marks the Day of Mourning for the victims of the bus crash in Ukraine and also 171 people killed in a devastating flood in Russia's Krasnodar region. 

Sources: RIA Novosti Lenta.ru Image: society.lib.ua