At least 30 killed in Russian strike on bus in Ukraine

On Thursday, Russian forces launched a deadly strike on a bus in Kramatorsk, a city located in eastern Ukraine. The attack resulted in at least 30 fatalities and 18 injuries, according to local authorities. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin shared the grim news on Telegram, posting images of the severely damaged bus. Filashkin emphatically stated that these victims were killed by the Russian military, emphasizing the complete lack of justification for such an act.

Kramatorsk is situated within the Ukrainian "fortress belt," a region that has been enduring relentless assaults from Russian troops for several months. Filashkin urged those still residing in the Donetsk region to evacuate to safer areas within Ukraine. Despite multiple evacuation pleas, numerous residents have chosen to stay, clinging to their homes and possessions.

The governor also directed military administrations in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk to halt public transportation, citing the imperative need to safeguard the lives of passengers and drivers. Filashkin firmly accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians, arguing that such a bus full of passengers serves as an attractive target for the Russians due to its potential to claim numerous lives in a single strike.

He further denounced Russia's blatant disregard for all applicable rules of warfare and international humanitarian law, highlighting the deliberate selection of targets where the resulting harm to the civilian population would be maximized. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been raging for more than four and a half years, with Moscow's ultimate objective being the complete control of the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian forces are fiercely defending their cities, receiving crucial support from Western military aid.