‘Targets of terror’: Russia kills 30 in single strike in Donbas
President Zelenskyy said Russia was "trying to destroy all life in Donbas" and that the attack would "not go unanswered."
In the early hours of Thursday, a Russian attack on two buses in Kramatorsk, Ukraine's Donbas region, claimed the lives of at least 30 individuals and left 18 others injured. The city council of Kramatorsk highlighted that these civilians were simply commuting their daily routines when the attack occurred. The city, already grappling with constant shelling and evacuations, now faces the grim reality that every journey within the city harbors a perilous threat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his dismay, pledging the efforts of doctors to save the lives of the injured and lamenting the unidentified victims. He conveyed his sympathies to their families. Prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation into the incident, with Zelenskyy warning of a resultant response from the world, deeming it necessary to deter Russia's attempt to annihilate life in Donbas.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Zelenskyy's sentiments, stating that a negotiated settlement appears unlikely, as Russia seeks full control of Donetsk, an offer Ukraine categorically rejects. Russia insists its invasion aims to protect Russian-speaking Donbas residents from an alleged Ukrainian "genocide," a claim Russia's President Vladimir Putin reiterated on October 1.
Moscow has yet to comment on the most recent strike, but has repeatedly denied targeting civilians. This incident follows a day prior when Russia launched a missile strike on a residential building in Pryluky, resulting in 22 deaths and over 50 injuries. Since August, Russia has intensified its retaliatory strikes in response to Ukraine's attacks on Russian institutions.
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