At least 33 dead in Russian bomb blast in east Ukraine stronghold

A Russian bomb attack in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk has resulted in at least 33 deaths and 18 injuries, according to authorities. The assault targeted civilians in a key stronghold sought by Moscow, described by regional governor Vadym Filashkin as an "attractive target" due to the devastating impact a single strike can have.

The attack occurred on a street where two city buses were operating, leaving a scene of devastation with bodies scattered across debris-filled streets and a charred bus shell. President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to the incident as a "bus stop" attack. Moscow has consistently denied targeting civilians, despite launching numerous drone and guided-bomb strikes on Ukrainian cities, towns, and other targets throughout its ongoing invasion that began in February 2022.

Russia has intensified its aerial assaults on Kramatorsk and other cities in Ukraine's "fortress belt," which serves as a crucial defense line for the Donetsk region. Filashkin ordered city authorities in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, another key fortress-belt city, to halt public transport, emphasizing the need to prioritize citizens' safety.

The attack transpired a day after Russia conducted a massive air raid across Ukraine, primarily targeting the country's power grid. Additionally, three people were killed and 14 wounded in drone strikes on the capital, Kyiv, as Russian forces persistently launch waves of attacks on the capital amid a shortage of Ukrainian air defenses.