Thirty-Three Killed in Passenger Bus Strikes in Kramatorsk
Russian strikes on passenger buses and surrounding areas in Kramatorsk killed 33 people and injured at least 18 others, according to regional authorities. Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk regional administration, reported that the morning bombardment targeted civilian transport directly, leaving vehicles burned and debris scattered across the roadway. LSM reported that 30 people died specifically from the direct strike on the two buses, while three additional people were killed in a nearby village in the Kramatorsk area.
Public Transport Suspended as Evacuations Urged
Following the deadly strike, local authorities ordered an immediate halt to all public transport operations in Kramatorsk and the neighboring city of Sloviansk. Filashkin stated that passenger and driver safety remains the primary priority, noting that officials cannot risk lives under current conditions. Filashkin urged all remaining residents in the Donetsk region to evacuate to safer parts of Ukraine immediately. The regional administration noted that residential buildings and private cars sustained damage during the bombardment.
Glide Bombs Intensify Pressure on Donbas Logistics Hubs
Kramatorsk and Sloviansk are significant cities in the Donbas region that Russian forces have long attempted to capture. It was reported that attacks on these cities have escalated sharply in recent months, with Kramatorsk having served as an important military logistics hub for the Ukrainian army, but now being in a zone of nearly continuous bombardment. Russian forces frequently deploy gliding bombs equipped with special wing structures that allow the munitions to travel large distances from the launch point before striking. Officials documented up to nine such glide bombs fired at Kramatorsk within a single day in late August.
Zelenskyy Demands Action From International Partners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike and stated that the attack would not go unanswered. Zelenskyy called on international allies to deliver concrete defense packages to protect Ukraine against ongoing aerial assaults. The strike in Kramatorsk coincided with a broader wave of nationwide attacks. According to LSM, a Russian strike destroyed a five-story residential building in Pryluky, Chernihiv Oblast, killing 22 people, including five children, just a day before the Kramatorsk bus bombing.
Transport Stops in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk After Gliding Bomb Strikes
Which specific cities had public transport suspended following the attacks?
Public transport operations were halted entirely in Kramatorsk and the neighboring city of Sloviansk by order of regional administration head Vadym Filashkin to protect passengers and drivers.
What type of munitions did Russian forces use in the Kramatorsk strike?
Regional authorities reported that Russian forces heavily utilized gliding bombs, which are equipped with wing structures enabling them to glide toward targets from long distances.
How many total casualties were reported across the Kramatorsk area?
LSM reported that 30 people died from the direct strike on the passenger buses, three others were killed in an adjacent village, and at least 18 people sustained injuries.
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