Dozens killed in Russian strike on civilian buses in eastern Ukraine

On Thursday, a Russian guided missile struck Kramatorsk, a city in eastern Ukraine, killing 30 people and injuring 18 more who were riding packed city buses. The attack occurred near two buses, according to officials. Oleksandr Honcharenko, head of the Kramatorsk military administration, stated that Russia is deliberately targeting civilians.

Rescue efforts were complicated by further attacks from Russia using small drones. Video footage showed bodies scattered across the debris-strewn road near the wreckage of destroyed vehicles. Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported three additional casualties from Russian shelling in neighboring villages, where one body was recovered from a collapsed house.

This marked the second consecutive day of heavy Russian attacks. On Wednesday, a missile hit a five-story apartment building in Pryluky, killing at least 22 people and wounding 50 more. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin accused Russia of deliberately trying to kill as many people as possible. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no clear path to a peaceful resolution to the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to escalate attacks on Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries, in response to Russia's tactics aimed at forcing people to abandon major cities like Kyiv. He emphasized that Ukraine would not target Russian civilians. Moscow denied targeting civilians but urged foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel to leave Kyiv, warning of systematic strikes against military targets in the capital and other Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine's military reported hitting Russia's largest oil refinery in Siberia, which supplies fuel to Russia's forces. Another strike targeted a Yandex data center in northern Ukraine, causing a fire and suspending operations. President Zelenskyy called for increased U.S. pressure on Russia, stating that Ukrainian negotiators would visit the U.S. for discussions on Friday and Saturday.