Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Russian Strikes Kill 30 in Kramatorsk as US Talks Approach
Two buses were hit in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, and 30 people were killed.
Police said a glide bomb struck the buses.
Ukrainian leaders said Russia deliberately attacked civilians, but Russia denies authorizing attacks on civilian areas.
Three more people were reported killed by shelling in a nearby village.
The day before, a missile hit an apartment building in Pryluky and killed 22 people, including five children.
Kramatorsk stopped public transport because officials said security had worsened.
Ukrainian negotiators were due to meet US officials, with European representatives invited.
The United Nations says it has confirmed more than 17,000 civilian deaths in the war, and that the true number is higher.
Ukraine said two buses in Kramatorsk were struck, killing 30 people; police said a glide bomb was used.
Ukrainian officials accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians, while the Kremlin denies accusations that it authorized attacks on civilian areas.
Three people were also reported killed by shelling in a nearby village, and 22 people died in a missile strike on an apartment block in Pryluky the previous day.
Kramatorsk suspended public transport, and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three people were killed and 14 wounded in Kyiv on Thursday.
Ukrainian negotiators were expected to meet a US team Friday and Saturday; US sources said European and NATO representatives had been invited.
- Who
- Thirty people were killed in the bus strike; Ukrainian officials accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians.
- What
- Two buses were struck in Kramatorsk; police said a glide bomb was used.
- When
- Thursday; the articles do not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- Kramatorsk, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
- Why
- Ukrainian officials said civilians were deliberately targeted; Russia denies claims that it authorized massive attacks on civilian areas.
Ukrainian officials and supporters
Russian position
Whether civilians were deliberately targeted
Ukrainian officials and supporters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians. Kramatorsk City Council said there were no military targets in the area.
Russian position
The articles say the Kremlin denies claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized massive attacks on civilian areas.
How to respond to the attacks
Ukrainian officials and supporters
Zelensky called for greater pressure on Russia and better air-defence systems. The United Kingdom announced additional sanctions on Moscow, and Ukraine sent negotiators for talks with a US team.
Russian position
The articles provide no specific Russian response to these proposed measures or to the Kramatorsk strike.
- Kramatorsk deaths
- Thirty people were reported killed when two buses were struck.
- Reported weapon
- Police said the buses were hit by a glide bomb.
- Nearby village
- Emergency services reported three deaths from shelling.
- Pryluky strike
- A missile hit a five-storey apartment block, killing 22 people, including five children.
- Kyiv casualties
- Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three people were killed and 14 wounded on Thursday.
- Transport suspension
- Public transport was suspended in Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk.
- US talks
- Ukrainian negotiators were due to meet a US team Friday and Saturday; officials from Britain, France, Germany, NATO and the European Union were invited, according to US sources.
- UN-verified deaths
- The United Nations has verified more than 17,000 civilian deaths in the war and says the actual toll is considerably higher.
