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A Russian aerial bomb struck two buses in the Ukrainian frontline city of Kramatorsk on Thursday, killing at least 30 people and wounding 18 others. The attack hit a public street at 10 a.m. local time, according to Ukraine’s National Police. The strike is among the deadliest single incidents in recent weeks as Russia intensifies its assault across the country.
Attack Targets Civilians at a Public Transport Stop
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on social media, describing the target as “an ordinary public transport stop.” He later added that doctors were fighting to save the injured. He also noted that some of the dead could not yet be identified due to the severity of their injuries.
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Kramatorsk Regional Governor Vadym Filashkin accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians. He shared images showing charred bus wreckage, debris, and body parts scattered across the road. In response to what he called “the sharp deterioration of the security situation,” Filashkin announced the suspension of public transport in Kramatorsk and the neighboring city of Sloviansk.
Moscow, however, has repeatedly denied that it deliberately targets civilians in Ukraine.
A City Close to the Front Line
Kramatorsk sits near the active front line in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region. This industrial area has been central to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war plans since the conflict began. The city’s location makes it especially vulnerable to ongoing strikes.
Civilian casualties across Ukraine have surged in recent weeks. Russia has stepped up its attacks, while Ukraine continues to run low on air defense munitions. Officials have also noted a rise in daytime strikes, which now create a round-the-clock threat to ordinary people.
Deadly Week of Russian Strikes
Thursday’s bus bombing follows another deadly attack just one day earlier. On Wednesday, a Russian missile struck a residential building in northern Ukraine, killing 22 people. Five of those killed were children.
Together, the two attacks highlight the growing toll on Ukrainian civilians. As Russia’s campaign grows more intense, the Kramatorsk bus bombing stands as a stark reminder of the dangers facing people in frontline communities. Ukrainian authorities continue to urge residents in high-risk areas to take shelter and remain alert.
