In brief
In a tragic incident on Thursday, a Russian glide bomb struck two civilian buses in the frontline city of Kramatorsk, killing 33 people and wounding 18, according to Donetsk authorities. The attack, part of a broader surge in Russian air raids, highlights the growing threat to Ukrainian civilians in the Donbas front. Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin called the strike a deliberate attempt to terrorise and urged residents to evacuate. Ukraine's president Zelensky urged international partners to deliver concrete defence aid, while the UN reports a record number of civilian deaths this year.
Tragic loss in Kramatorsk
Thirty‑three civilians were killed when a Russian glide bomb hit two buses on a main road in Kramatorsk, the frontline city that has been a logistics hub for Ukrainian forces.
Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin said 18 people were wounded and accused the Kremlin of targeting a civilian transport route in a bid to maximise terror.
“The Russians have struck a location where there are absolutely no military targets,” Filashkin said. “We have no right to risk the lives of passengers and drivers.”
Civilians amid a sharpening conflict
Kramatorsk and nearby Slovyansk are part of the heavily contested “fortress belt” that Russia aims to seize as part of its claim on the industrial Donbas region. The city has seen a steady rise in air attacks as Russian forces advance toward the east.
Earlier this week, a missile strike destroyed a five‑storey block of flats in Pryluky east of Kyiv, killing 22 people, including five children, one year old.
International reaction and defence calls
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a message of condolence on Telegram and warned that Ukraine’s partners must provide “concrete action” to strengthen defence packages.
The United Nations has recorded more civilian deaths in Ukraine this year than in all of 2025, underscoring the urgent need for international support.
