A Russian missile strike on a bus in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, killed at least 33 people and wounded 18 others, according to local authorities. The attack, which occurred on a street with two operating city buses, was carried out using a glide bomb. Images posted by Ukrainian officials showed a burned-out shell of a bus and several bodies strewn across the ground. The attack follows a similar incident in Pryluky where a missile strike killed 22, including five children.
The attack on the bus in Kramatorsk is part of a broader pattern of Russian strikes targeting civilian areas. Ukrainian officials have described the attack as a deliberate strike on a location with no military targets. The Donetsk regional governor accused Russia of targeting civilians, stating that a bus full of passengers is an attractive target due to the high number of potential casualties. The attack comes as Russia continues its campaign in the Donetsk region, with forces nearing the city's eastern edge.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for increased international support to bolster Ukraine's defenses against Russian attacks. He has urged Western allies to take concrete steps to enhance Ukraine's air defenses, citing the ongoing Russian onslaught. The strikes highlight the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region, with both sides intensifying long-range attacks beyond their borders. The conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties, with the UN reporting over 17,000 verified deaths.