Ukraine says 30 killed, 18 wounded in Russian attack on passenger buses in Kramatorsk

A Russian strike on two passenger buses in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk has killed at least 30 people and wounded 18 others, local authorities said on Thursday.

The Donetsk regional prosecutor's office confirmed the death toll following the attack on Telegram on Thursday morning.

What do we know about the attack?

The regional governor's office reported the same figures and said public transport services had been suspended.

Governor Vadym Filashkin said Russian forces were deliberately targeting civilian transport.

"For them, a bus with passengers is an attractive target precisely because one strike can kill as many people as possible," he said.

"Russia deliberately disregards all conceivable rules of warfare and the norms of international humanitarian law. It chooses targets where it can cause the most pain to civilians."

"Under such circumstances, we have no right to risk the lives of passengers and drivers. The safety of the residents of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk is now above all else."

Earlier reports had put the death toll at 12, with 14 wounded.

Why is Kramatorsk strategically important?

Kramatorsk lies close to the front line in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. It is one of the main Ukrainian-held cities in the Donetsk region, which Russia claims to have annexed.

The city has served as a key military logistics hub throughout much of the war and forms part of Ukraine's heavily defended eastern "fortress belt."

Russian forces have advanced toward the city's eastern outskirts, prompting calls for remaining civilians to evacuate to safer areas.