Russian Strike on Two Buses Kills 33 in Kramatorsk, Ukraine's Deadliest Attack This Year

Russian Strike on Two Buses Kills 33 in Kramatorsk, Ukraine's Deadliest Attack This Year

At least 33 people were killed and 18 injured when a Russian strike hit two public buses in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. The attack is the deadliest single strike on Ukraine this year and comes as Russia intensifies its campaign against civilian areas ahead of winter.

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ukrainerussia

At least 33 people were killed Thursday when a Russian strike hit two public buses in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, local authorities said. Another 18 people were injured, making it the deadliest single attack in Ukraine this year [259970].

The regional prosecutor's office in the Donetsk region said an aerial bomb struck the vehicles at 10am, setting a second bus on fire [257137]. All local public transport in the city has been suspended [257137]. The governor of the Donetsk region accused the Kremlin of "deliberately targeting civilians" [257137].

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there would be a response to the strike [257702]. France 24's Andrew Hilliar said the attack is part of a growing number of Russian strikes on civilians in Ukraine. United Nations figures show that more civilians had been killed in Ukraine as of August this year than in all of 2025 [257702].

The strike on Kramatorsk is part of an intensified wave of Russian attacks ahead of winter [257714]. In Pryluky, the death toll reached 22, including five children, as rescuers finished searching the rubble. Blackouts have returned to Kyiv [258352].

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based research group, warned that faster jet-powered Geran drones are freeing Russia to save missiles for its winter campaign against Ukraine's energy system [258352]. The strike on Kramatorsk occurred as Moscow's war on Ukraine entered its 1,688th day [258352].

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Sources

33 dead: Russian strike on buses is Ukraine's deadliest attack this year #259970Russia strikes bus in Kramatorsk: at least 30 killed #257137Bus attack kills 30 in eastern Ukraine as Russian strikes intensify #257714Russia sharpens winter strike plan as Kramatorsk bus attack kills 30 #258352Zelensky vows response after Russian strike kills 30 in Kramatorsk #257702

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