Strike near Kramatorsk buses kills 33, officials say

A strike near two passenger buses in Kramatorsk killed 33 people and wounded 18, Ukrainian emergency authorities said Thursday, as officials suspended public transport in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The reported toll rose during the day, with earlier updates putting the number killed at 30. The later figure of 33 deaths and 18 wounded was reported by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. The accounts provided no independently verified casualty count. Ukrainian authorities said two passenger buses were operating on the street when it was hit. Images released by local prosecutors showed a burned bus and debris. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the location as a bus stop. Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting passengers. The reports did not independently establish responsibility or intent. There was no immediate Russian comment reported on the strike; Russia has denied intentionally targeting civilians in the wider conflict. Filashkin said the deteriorating security situation prompted authorities to halt public transport in Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk, both in Donetsk region.