Russian Strike on Buses in Ukraine Kills 33 as Deadly Attacks Surge
Russian Strike on Buses Kills 33
At least 33 people have been killed in a Russian strike on buses in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, local officials say.
Another 18 people were wounded in the attack, which happened on Thursday morning as two passenger buses were operating along a street near the frontline.
Ukrainian authorities said a Russian glide bomb hit the area where the buses were travelling. Images from the scene showed a burned-out bus, debris and victims lying on the road.
The attack is one of the deadliest single strikes on civilians in Ukraine in recent months. It comes as Russian attacks across the country have intensified.
Kramatorsk Attack Hits Civilian Transport
The strike took place in Kramatorsk, a key Ukrainian city in the Donetsk region.
The city has remained under Ukrainian control but is part of the defensive area that Russian forces are seeking to capture.
Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilians.
He said the attack appeared to have caused a large number of casualties because the buses were carrying passengers.
Ukrainian officials said there was no military target at the location.
Russia has not immediately commented on the latest attack. Moscow has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians during its war against Ukraine.
Public Transport Suspended
Authorities have suspended public transport in Kramatorsk and nearby Sloviansk following the attack.
Officials said the decision was made because of the worsening security situation in the two cities.
Filashkin urged residents who remain in the Donetsk region to move to safer areas.
He said the authorities could not risk the lives of passengers and drivers while Russian drone and guided-bomb attacks were increasing.
The transport suspension is expected to affect thousands of residents who rely on buses for essential journeys.
Deadly Attacks Hit Ukraine
Thursday’s attack came less than a day after another major Russian assault across Ukraine.
A missile strike on a residential building in Pryluky, in the northern Chernihiv region, killed 22 people. Five children were among those killed, according to Ukrainian officials.
Other Russian attacks were reported in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities.
In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three people were killed and 14 others were wounded in Russian drone attacks on the capital.
The attacks have added to concerns about the safety of civilians as Ukraine enters another difficult period of the war.
Russia Intensifies Attacks
Russian forces have increased the use of drones, missiles and guided bombs against Ukrainian cities.
Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk have faced repeated attacks because of their importance to Ukraine’s defensive positions in Donetsk.
Glide bombs have become an important part of Russia’s aerial campaign. The weapons can travel significant distances after being released from aircraft, making them difficult for Ukrainian forces to intercept.
Local officials say attacks on Kramatorsk have become increasingly frequent.
The city has also served as an important logistics centre for Ukrainian forces during the war.
Civilian Casualties Continue to Rise
The latest attacks have caused concern over the growing number of civilian deaths.
According to United Nations figures cited in reports, the number of civilians killed in Ukraine during the first eight months of 2026 had already exceeded the total recorded during the whole of 2025.
The increase has come as Russia has stepped up long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
Ukraine has also continued launching long-range attacks against targets inside Russia.
Zelensky Calls for More Defence Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed condolences to families affected by the Kramatorsk attack.
He also called on Ukraine’s international partners to provide more air-defence equipment.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked Western countries for additional interceptor missiles and other systems to protect its cities from Russian attacks.
The country faces shortages of some air-defence weapons, making it difficult to stop every incoming missile, drone or guided bomb.
War Continues Across Donetsk
Kramatorsk remains one of the most important cities still controlled by Ukraine in the Donetsk region.
Russian forces are seeking to capture the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of the region as part of their wider military objectives.
The fighting has caused extensive destruction across eastern Ukraine and forced millions of people to leave their homes.
The latest strike shows the continuing danger faced by civilians living near the frontline.
As rescue teams search damaged areas and authorities assess the casualties, concerns are growing that further Russian attacks could follow in the coming days.
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