At least 30 people were killed and more than 18 injured when a Russian-guided bomb struck two passenger buses in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Thursday morning, local authorities reported. The attack, which occurred near a bus stop in Donetsk region, destroyed the vehicles and caused significant casualties. Following the strike, public transport in the area was suspended.
Officials and Ukrainian leaders condemned the attack as a deliberate targeting of civilians. Oleksandr Honcharenko, head of Kramatorsk’s military administration, described the bombing as a cynical act by Russia. He also noted that rescue operations were hindered by subsequent Russian drone assaults. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin accused Moscow of violating international humanitarian law by striking locations without military significance.
The bombing in Kramatorsk came a day after a Russian missile attack on a residential building in the northern town of Pryluky killed 22 people, including five children, and wounded at least 54 others. Rescue teams continued searching the rubble for missing residents as some survivors sought shelter in heavily damaged apartments. Ukrainian officials emphasized the widespread impact of Russian strikes on civilians across multiple regions.
In Kyiv, the capital has faced intensified missile and drone attacks in recent days. The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported at least two civilian deaths following a drone strike on a residential building in the Solomyanskyi district. Other critical infrastructure, including transport bridges, railways, and the energy grid, has suffered damage. The energy company DTEK stated that emergency power cuts have been implemented as part of efforts to manage the electrical grid under sustained assault.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a likely escalation in daily missile and drone strikes as winter approaches, calling on NATO countries to provide additional defense support. He emphasized the importance of securing anti-ballistic capabilities, combat aircraft ammunition, and interceptors to protect Ukrainian lives.
During a visit to Ukraine, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband condemned the attacks as evidence of a deliberate Russian strategy targeting civilian areas. He described the strikes as war crimes under international law and announced new sanctions targeting Russian oil companies, shadow fleet tankers, and military supply chains.
The ongoing conflict remains marked by a stalemate along the frontline more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Both sides continue to engage in long-range aerial attacks beyond the frontlines, resulting in significant civilian casualties. The United Nations estimates that over 17,000 civilians have been killed in the war, with the actual figure believed to be substantially higher.