KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian-guided bomb exploded next to public buses filled with passengers in eastern Ukraine, authorities reported on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of 30 people. This incident is part of a series of attacks that have exacerbated power outages in the capital, Kyiv.
The attack occurred near a bus stop in Kramatorsk, located in Ukraine's Donetsk region, leading to the suspension of public transport in the area. Oleksandr Honcharenko, head of the city's military administration, stated that the rescue efforts were hindered by subsequent Russian drone attacks.
Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a prolonged aerial conflict, with their ground forces largely at a standstill more than four and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its aerial assaults, targeting infrastructure critical to Ukraine's economy as winter approaches. Key targets have included energy systems, industries, railways, and other essential services.
The Kramatorsk attack followed a missile strike the previous day in Pryluky, which killed 22 individuals, including five children. Rescuers were reported to be searching through the rubble of a residential building, with at least 54 people injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Pryluky on Thursday alongside British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who announced new sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy indicated that an escalation of missile and drone attacks from Russia is likely as winter approaches and called for increased defense support from NATO countries.
In an online post, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for tangible support, including anti-ballistic capabilities and ammunition for combat aircraft, stating that these resources are vital for saving lives.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that a Ukrainian delegation would meet with representatives of President Donald Trump in the U.S. to discuss enhancing Ukraine's air defenses.
Ukraine's energy company DTEK announced that the national grid operator, Ukrenergo, had ordered emergency power outages in Kyiv, halting regular rolling outages during these shutdowns. Officials are advising families to prepare emergency kits and maintain backup power sources due to the ongoing attacks.
Kyiv police reported that bomb disposal specialists defused two unexploded ballistic missile warheads near residential buildings. Additionally, Russian drones targeted Kyiv's Obolonskyi and Desnianskyi districts, resulting in four fatalities and 12 injuries, including four children.
In related news, Russian technology company Yandex reported damage to one of its data centers in the Ryazan region due to a Ukrainian drone attack.
On the same day, Ukraine claimed to have struck a significant oil refinery complex in Salavat, approximately 1,200 kilometers (about 750 miles) east of Moscow. This claim has not been independently verified. Ukrainian drones also reached the Omsk region in western Siberia, where a regional governor reported that most drones were intercepted, but one reached an industrial hub, with reports of a fire at the Omsk oil refinery.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Turkey has proposed measures to both Russia and Ukraine to protect civilian shipping in the Black Sea, cautioning that military offensives could disrupt commercial trade and grain exports.
Separately, Lithuania has deployed about 100 additional soldiers to secure its border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, as stated by the Baltic country's defense minister, Robertas Kaunas. Kaliningrad, located between Lithuania and Poland, remains a significant security concern for NATO's eastern flank.