Russian Glide Bomb Strike on Civilian Buses Kills at Least 30 in Ukraine’s Kramatorsk

Kyiv (Terror Monitor) — At least 30 people were killed and 18 others injured when a Russian glide bomb struck two civilian passenger buses in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Thursday, Ukrainian authorities said, in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians reported in the country in recent months.

The strike hit the buses in the Donetsk region, where emergency services responded to the scene and worked to extinguish fires and assist the injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack also damaged nearby property, while images released by Ukrainian authorities showed the charred wreckage of the buses.

The Associated Press, Reuters and other international news organizations reported the attack, citing Ukrainian officials and regional authorities. The casualty figures were still subject to updates as rescue and recovery operations continued.

Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of deliberately targeting civilians

Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk regional military administration, accused Russian forces of deliberately striking buses carrying passengers.

Ukrainian officials said the vehicles were civilian public transport and that passengers were aboard when the bomb hit.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack and vowed that it would not go unanswered.

The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly accused Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure and populated areas during its full-scale invasion. Moscow has generally denied deliberately targeting civilians, although Russian attacks have repeatedly caused civilian casualties and damage to residential areas across Ukraine.

Russia had not immediately commented on the Kramatorsk strike at the time of reporting. The Ukrainian account of the circumstances and attribution of the attack could not be independently verified.

Three more people killed in nearby village

Separately, Ukrainian authorities reported that three people were killed in the village of Bilenke, which is part of the Kramatorsk community.

The deaths were reported amid continued attacks in the wider area. The fatalities in Bilenke were separate from those reported in the strike on the two buses in Kramatorsk.

Taken together, the two incidents left at least 33 people dead in the Kramatorsk area, while 18 people were reported injured in the bus strike, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Public transport suspended amid deteriorating security

Following the attack, authorities ordered the suspension of public transport in Kramatorsk and the neighboring city of Sloviansk because of the deteriorating security situation.

Filashkin urged residents remaining in the Donetsk region to evacuate to safer parts of Ukraine, warning of the risks posed by continued Russian attacks.

Kramatorsk has become one of Ukraine’s key remaining urban strongholds in the northern part of Donetsk region. Along with Sloviansk, it forms part of a heavily fortified defensive belt that Russian forces have been attempting to capture.

The area also serves as an important logistical center for Ukrainian forces and remains exposed to Russian missile, drone, artillery and guided-bomb attacks.

Donbas remains a major battlefield

Kramatorsk and Sloviansk lie in the industrial Donbas region, which has been at the center of fighting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian forces have sought to advance across Donetsk region, while Ukrainian troops continue to defend key towns and fortified positions. The capture of the remaining Ukrainian-held territory in Donetsk has been a central objective of Moscow’s military campaign.

Glide bombs have become a prominent feature of Russia’s aerial operations. These weapons can be released by aircraft from a distance and guided toward ground targets, allowing aircraft to strike positions without necessarily flying directly over them.

The repeated use of such weapons near populated areas has raised concerns about civilian protection, particularly in frontline communities where residents have limited opportunities to evacuate.

Kyiv calls for stronger international support

The latest attack comes amid intensified Russian aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Ukrainian officials have called on Western partners to provide additional air-defence systems and ammunition to protect civilians and critical infrastructure. Zelensky has repeatedly argued that stronger air defences are essential to reducing civilian casualties and preventing further destruction.

The Kramatorsk strike also highlights the continuing danger faced by civilians who remain in frontline cities, where public transport, residential neighborhoods and essential services operate under the threat of aerial attacks.

With fighting continuing across Donbas and diplomatic efforts failing to secure a lasting settlement, Ukrainian authorities are warning that residents in exposed areas face persistent risks from further Russian strikes.