A Russian glide bomb attack targeting two civilian buses in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk has resulted in at least 30 deaths, according to rescue officials. Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin confirmed that an additional 18 individuals were wounded in the strike, which he characterized as a deliberate effort to maximize civilian casualties. Beyond the bus attack, authorities reported that three people were killed in the nearby village of Bilenke.
Kramatorsk and the neighboring city of Slovyansk constitute a defensive “fortress belt” that Russia is attempting to capture as part of the broader effort to seize the Donbas region. While Moscow has often justified its ongoing invasion by citing the “liberation” of Russian-speaking areas, the Kremlin continues to target remaining Ukrainian-held territories, including roughly 20% of the Donetsk region. The Kremlin is also aiming to capture remaining 20% of Donetsk territory still held by Ukraine, it is made up of two regions – Luhansk and Donetsk – and with most of Luhansk under Russian control.
Official Responses and Safety Measures
- President Volodymyr Zelensky: Declared that the strike will not go unanswered and emphasized that Kyiv’s allies must take concrete action.
- Telegram Statement: Zelensky stated, “Russia is trying to destroy all life in Donbas, and the world needs to react to this. React harshly – exactly as the Russians deserve.”
- Transport Halt: Due to the severe security deterioration in Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, Filashkin announced that all public transportation services have been suspended to prevent further risk to passengers and drivers.
- Council Statement: The Kramatorsk City Council condemned the attack as a “horrific crime” against a population in an area void of military targets.
The incident coincides with a sharp escalation in Russian strikes across the country, leading to a significant rise in civilian casualties. According to UN data, the number of civilians killed in Ukraine by August of this year has already surpassed the total recorded for all of 2025. In another recent, deadly attack early Wednesday, 22 people—including five children—were killed when a strike leveled a residential block in Pryluky, east of Kyiv. It follows a dramatic surge in Russian attacks across the country and a heavy increase in civilian casualties.
During a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the Pryluky attack as evidence of “evil intent.” He pledged that the United Kingdom would maintain its support for Ukraine and introduced new sanctions targeting Russia’s “war machine,” including measures against oil companies, shadow fleets, and cryptocurrency financing.
Kramatorsk, previously a key logistics and supply hub for the Ukrainian military, has increasingly faced daily bombardment as front lines shift closer. Glide bombs, which use winglets to steer toward targets, have become a frequent weapon of choice in these assaults. Local prosecutors released images following the latest attack, documenting the charred remains of the buses and debris scattered across the road. The bombs are fitted with winglets so they glide towards their target rather than simply fall. In late August as many as nine glide bombs were fired at Kramatorsk in one day. Once again, the Russians have struck a location where there are absolutely no military targets,” it said.
Important Details
- Images posted by local prosecutors showed the burning metal shell of the bus along with debris and some of the victims on the road.
