A deadly Russian attack on two passenger buses in Kramatorsk has killed at least 33 people and wounded 18, adding to a surge of lethal strikes across Ukraine.
At least 33 people have been killed and 18 others injured after a Russian glide bomb struck a street where two passenger buses were travelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday. The attack is among the deadliest single strikes against civilians in Ukraine in recent months.
The strike came as Russian missile and drone attacks continued across several parts of Ukraine, following another deadly assault the previous day that killed at least 22 people, including five children, in the northern city of Pryluky. The latest attacks have raised fresh concerns about the intensifying aerial campaign as Ukraine heads into the winter months.
Two Passenger Buses Hit in Kramatorsk
The attack took place on a road in Kramatorsk, a key Ukrainian city in the Donetsk region that lies close to the front line. Ukrainian authorities said a guided glide bomb struck the area while two passenger buses were travelling along the street.
Images released by Ukrainian authorities showed one bus almost completely destroyed by fire, with debris scattered across the road. Emergency workers were deployed to the scene to extinguish fires and assist the wounded.
The death toll initially stood at 30 before Ukrainian emergency officials later reported that it had risen to 33. Eighteen people were also reported wounded. Three additional people were killed in a separate strike in the nearby village of Bilenke, according to Ukrainian emergency authorities.
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Deliberately Targeting Civilians
Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting the passenger buses, saying the attack appeared designed to cause a large number of civilian casualties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also condemned the strike and said the international community needed to respond with stronger support for Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for additional air-defence systems to protect cities and critical infrastructure from Russian missiles, drones and guided bombs.
The accusations have not been independently verified. Russia has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians and says its military strikes are directed at military and strategic infrastructure.
Kramatorsk Faces Growing Security Pressure
Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk are part of a heavily fortified area in eastern Ukraine that Kyiv considers strategically important for defending Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donetsk.
The cities have faced increasingly frequent Russian drone and guided-bomb attacks. Following the latest strike, authorities suspended public transport in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, citing the deteriorating security situation and the risk to passengers and drivers.
The use of glide bombs has become an increasingly important part of Russia’s air campaign. These weapons can be launched from aircraft at a distance from the immediate target area and then travel toward designated coordinates, making them particularly difficult for Ukrainian forces to intercept.
Deadly Attacks Mount Across Ukraine
The Kramatorsk strike came only a day after a major Russian missile and drone barrage struck multiple Ukrainian regions.
In Pryluky, a missile destroyed part of a residential building, killing 22 people, including five children, according to Ukrainian officials. Other strikes hit Kyiv and several additional cities, with civilian casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure reported.
Kyiv has also experienced worsening power disruptions following attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian authorities have warned residents to prepare for possible outages as Russia increases strikes on the country’s energy system ahead of winter.
Ukraine Seeks More International Support
The latest attacks have renewed Ukraine’s calls for stronger military assistance from its international partners, particularly additional air-defence capabilities.
Zelenskyy has argued that Ukraine needs more systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and other high-speed weapons, while Kyiv continues to ask Western governments to increase pressure on Moscow.
Ukrainian negotiators are also scheduled to travel to the United States for talks aimed at discussing the war and international support, according to Zelenskyy. The diplomatic effort comes as battlefield fighting and long-range attacks continue despite ongoing international attempts to find a path toward negotiations.
Conclusion
The Kramatorsk bus strike marks another deadly escalation in Russia’s aerial campaign against Ukraine. With at least 33 people killed and 18 wounded in the attack, the incident highlights the continuing danger faced by civilians in frontline communities.
The strike also comes amid a broader wave of attacks affecting residential areas, energy infrastructure and transport networks across Ukraine. As Kyiv seeks stronger air defences and international backing, the latest violence underlines how difficult it remains to reduce the intensity of the conflict and protect civilians.