At least 30 people were killed and 18 others injured after a Russian aerial strike hit an area where public buses were operating in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, on Thursday, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack came amid an intensified wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across the country ahead of winter. Local officials said the strike caused authorities to suspend public transport in Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk because of the deteriorating security situation.

The attack took place on a street where two city buses were operating, with Ukrainian officials describing the location as a public transport stop. A bus was badly damaged in the strike, while another vehicle also caught fire. The Donetsk regional administration said the attack had resulted in significant civilian casualties, while Ukrainian officials accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilians. Russia has not immediately commented on the incident and has repeatedly denied intentionally targeting civilians.

Kramatorsk and Sloviansk are among the key Ukrainian-held cities in the northern part of the Donetsk region and form part of what is often referred to as Ukraine's defensive “fortress belt”. Russian forces have intensified drone and guided-bomb attacks on the area as the war continues. Following Thursday's strike, officials halted public transport in both cities, citing the risk to passengers and drivers from further attacks.

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The Kramatorsk attack followed a deadly Russian barrage across Ukraine a day earlier. In Pryluky, in the northern Chernihiv region, a Russian missile struck a residential building, killing at least 22 people, including five children, while dozens of others were injured. Rescue teams continued searching damaged structures as authorities dealt with the aftermath of the strikes.

The attacks have also caused growing pressure on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure as winter approaches. In Kyiv, emergency power outages were ordered after strikes affected energy facilities, with the national grid operator implementing measures separate from scheduled rolling outages. Authorities have urged residents to prepare for possible prolonged disruptions by keeping essential supplies and alternative power sources available.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russian missile and drone attacks could intensify as temperatures fall and has appealed to NATO countries for additional air-defence support. Kyiv has faced repeated aerial attacks in recent days, while Ukrainian authorities continue efforts to protect civilian areas and critical infrastructure. The latest strikes underline the continuing risks faced by civilians as the war enters another winter.

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