Russian strike on buses kills 33 in Ukraine

A Russian glide bomb attack on two civilian buses in Kramatorsk has killed 33 people and wounded 18, Ukrainian officials say, as Russian attacks intensify across the country.

Civilian buses hit in Kramatorsk

The attack struck two passenger buses in Kramatorsk, a frontline city in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, setting both vehicles on fire. Ukrainian officials said 33 people were killed and 18 others injured.

Officials accuse Russia of targeting civilians

Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting a bus carrying civilians. Local prosecutors released images showing the burned remains of the buses and debris scattered along the road. Russia had not immediately commented on the attack.

Public transport suspended

Authorities ordered public transport in Kramatorsk and nearby Slovyansk to stop following the strike. Filashkin urged remaining residents in the Donetsk region to move to safer parts of Ukraine, saying the protection of civilians was the priority.

Kramatorsk faces growing attacks

Kramatorsk and Slovyansk form part of a strategic defensive area known as the fortress belt. Kramatorsk has previously served as an important logistics centre for Ukrainian forces and has faced increasingly frequent Russian attacks as Russian troops advance closer to the city.

Glide bombs used repeatedly

Russian forces have repeatedly used glide bombs against Kramatorsk and Slovyansk. The weapons are fitted with wings that allow them to travel towards targets after being released from aircraft. Ukrainian officials reported that several such bombs were launched at Kramatorsk in late August.

Heavy Russian attacks across Ukraine

The bus strike came a day after a major Russian missile and drone assault across Ukraine that killed at least 32 civilians, according to Reuters. The northern city of Pryluky suffered the heaviest losses.

Pryluky death toll rises

A Russian missile strike on a residential building in Pryluky killed 22 people, including five children, Ukrainian emergency officials said. Another 54 people were injured, while rescuers pulled 15 survivors from the rubble.

Zelenskyy calls for more defence support

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered condolences to the families affected by the attacks and called on Ukraine’s international partners to provide additional air-defence and other military support.

Donbas remains a major target

Kramatorsk is located in Donetsk, one of the two regions that make up the Donbas. Russia has sought to capture the remaining territory of Donetsk controlled by Ukraine, making the region a major focus of the war.

Civilian casualties continue to rise

The latest attacks highlight the continuing danger faced by civilians across Ukraine as Russia and Ukraine intensify long-range strikes. Cities far from the immediate frontline remain vulnerable to missiles and drones, while frontline communities face repeated bombardment.