Russian strike on buses kills 33, say officials, as deadly attacks on Ukraine surge

ByOlivia Ireland and Toby Luckhurst, in Kyiv.

Key points

• Another 18 individuals were wounded, stated Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin, accusing Russia of targeting a bus carrying passengers to kill as plenty of civilians as feasible.
• In one single attack that destroyed a five-storey block of flats in Pryluky east of Kyiv early on Wednesday, 22 individuals were killed, including five children.
• Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified long-range strikes on each other in recent months, with Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian data centres and logistics warehouses.
• Moscow has often cited the "liberation" and "protection" of the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas as justification for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• Children killed while they slept as Russian missile kills 22 in block of flats.

Thirty-three individuals have been killed in a Russian glide bomb attack on two civilian buses in the frontline city of Kramatorsk, rescue office-holders say.

Images posted by local prosecutors indicated the burning metal shell of the bus along with debris and some of the victims on the road.

Kramatorsk and neighbouring Slovyansk are part of a so-called fortress belt that Russia is trying to seize as part of Vladimir Putin's claim to the entire Ukrainian industrial region of Donbas.

Nevertheless, Thursday's attack follows a dramatic surge in Russian attacks nationwide and a heavy rise in civilian casualties.

Russia is now launching constant air raids against Ukraine, with sirens ringing throughout the day in the capital Kyiv. According to the UN, Ukraine saw more civilians killed by August this year than were killed in all of 2025.

In one single attack that destroyed a five-storey block of flats in Pryluky east of Kyiv early on Wednesday, 22 individuals were killed, including five children. Three of the children were only one year old.

Moscow is yet to comment on the latest attack, nevertheless rescue office-holders noted the attack caused a fire on two buses that were both carrying passengers.

Filashkin appealed to anyone who was still in the Donetsk region to move to safer regions of Ukraine.

Given the sharp deterioration of security in the two neighbouring cities, he remarked all public transport had been ordered to stop. The safety of civilians was paramount, and "we have no right to risk the lives of passengers and drivers", he remarked.

Moscow has often cited the "liberation" and "protection" of the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas as justification for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is created up of two regions – Luhansk and Donetsk – and with most of Luhansk under Russian control, the Kremlin is additionally aiming to capture remaining 20% of Donetsk territory still held by Ukraine.

Civilians informed to flee Ukraine's fortress cities as Russia bids to control Donbas.

Zelensky offered his condolences to families and loved ones affected by the latest attack and remarked Ukraine's partners needed to provide "concrete action through new defence packages for the protection of Ukraine".

Ahead of the Pryluky attack, the Ukrainian leader had cautioned this week of cautioned of intelligence suggesting intends for a major Russian onslaught, and in Kyiv families responded by heading to metro stations for shelter.

Such warnings are for now one of the best defences Ukrainians have.

Interceptor missiles are in short supply worldwide, so Ukraine has little chance to stop incoming Russian ballistics.

For much of the war Kramatorsk acted as a logistics and supply hub for the Ukrainian military, nevertheless it has now come under almost daily Russian attack as its military moves closer to the east of the city.

Glide bombs in particular have been introduced at Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. The bombs are fitted with winglets so they glide towards their target rather than simply fall. In late August as plenty of as nine glide bombs were fired at Kramatorsk in one day.

Kramatorsk City Council described the strike as a "horrific crime committed by the Russian army against the civilian population".

"Once again, the Russians have struck a location where there are absolutely no military targets."

For now, russian strike on buses kills 33, say officials, as deadly attacks on remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.