Death toll from Russian bus strike in eastern Ukraine rises to 33: authorities
Death toll from Russian bus strike in eastern Ukraine jumps to 30: authorities
On Thursday, Russia struck two passenger buses in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, killing 33 people and wounding 18, according to local authorities. This marked the deadliest single attack of 2026 so far. The assault also claimed three lives in the village of Bilenke, situated within the Kramatorsk community. Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin blamed Russia for deliberately targeting buses laden with passengers, in a bid to inflict maximum civilian casualties.
Ukraine's governor ordered the suspension of public transport in Kramatorsk and the nearby town of Sloviansk, urging residents to seek refuge in safer locations. Ukraine's national police launched a preliminary war-crimes investigation into the incident, releasing harrowing images of charred bus remains and debris scattered across the road.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate effort to target civilians. Moscow has denied allegations of civilian targeting, despite extensive evidence of strikes on residential and urban areas.
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