Russian strike kills at least 33 in eastern Ukraine in deadliest single attack this year

Russian forces launched a devastating strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Thursday, October 8, 2026, killing at least 33 people and wounding 18 others. Ukrainian authorities described the attack as a targeted strike on civilians, making it one of the deadliest single attacks this year.

The bomb attack struck a street where city buses were reportedly operating, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy identifying the target as a bus stop. Regional governor Vadym Filashkin stated that buses with passengers are considered attractive targets by Russian forces to maximize casualties. Following the intensified strikes, city officials in Kramatorsk and nearby Sloviansk have suspended public transport to protect civilians.

While there was no immediate comment from Moscow regarding the incident, Russia has consistently denied targeting civilians throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The attack in Kramatorsk follows other significant Russian strikes this year, including a drone attack in Myla in August that killed 37 people and a wave of strikes in April that resulted in at least 17 deaths across the country.