Kyiv: Russian attacks across Ukraine have killed more than 70 people over two days, according to reports on Thursday, including civilians killed in a strike on public buses in the eastern city of Kramatorsk and a missile attack on a residential building in Pryluky. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for stronger air defences as the country faces continued missile and drone attacks.
At least 35 people were reported killed in Kramatorsk on Thursday, October 8, after a Russian guided bomb struck near two public buses carrying passengers, according to Ukrainian authorities and subsequent reports. The attack took place in the Donetsk region, where Kramatorsk remains one of the key cities under Ukrainian control.
The regional governor, Vadym Filashkin, accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians. Public transport operations in Kramatorsk and the nearby city of Sloviansk were suspended following the attack because of the deteriorating security situation. The strike also raised fresh concerns about the safety of people travelling through areas close to the front line.
The Kramatorsk attack came a day after a Russian missile struck a five storey residential building in Pryluky, in the northern Chernihiv region. Ukrainian authorities reported that 22 people were killed, including five children. At least 54 people were injured in the attack, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service.
Rescue workers searched the damaged building as the death toll rose. Zelenskyy visited Pryluky on October 8 alongside British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. They visited the affected area and met injured people receiving treatment at the local hospital.
The attacks were part of a wider wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported damage in several regions, while emergency services continued responding to casualties and damaged infrastructure.
The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was also hit by Russian drone attacks. City authorities reported that four people were killed and 14 injured in attacks on the capital, while emergency electricity outages added to concerns about the reliability of the power supply. Police also dealt with unexploded missile warheads found near residential buildings.
The damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure has become a major concern as colder weather approaches. Electricity disruptions can affect homes and essential services, increasing the pressure on communities already dealing with the consequences of the war.
Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine's international partners to provide additional air defence capabilities, interceptors and ammunition for combat aircraft. He has also criticised the United States for what he considers insufficient support, calling on President Donald Trump to increase pressure on Russia and strengthen assistance to Ukraine.
Ukrainian representatives were expected to meet US officials in Florida on October 9 and 10 to discuss the war and possible diplomatic steps. The outcome of the planned talks was not yet known.
Britain has also continued its engagement with Ukraine. Miliband's visit to Pryluky highlighted the civilian consequences of the attacks and the continuing need for international support. European partners have provided financial assistance as Ukraine seeks to maintain its defences and essential public services.
Russia has described its recent military operations as strikes against military industrial facilities. However, the reported deaths in Kramatorsk and Pryluky have renewed concerns about the impact of the attacks on civilians. Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians, while Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of striking locations used by ordinary people.
Ukraine has also continued to report drone attacks against infrastructure inside Russia. Russian technology company Yandex said a data centre in the Ryazan region was damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack. Ukraine's General Staff separately claimed that Ukrainian forces struck a major refinery and petrochemical complex in Salavat. The refinery claim could not be independently verified in the reporting reviewed.
The exchange of long range attacks has increasingly affected infrastructure on both sides. While military objectives remain central to the conflict, damage to civilian areas and essential services continues to create serious humanitarian concerns.
The latest attacks have added to pressure on Ukraine as it seeks more effective protection for its cities and infrastructure. With rescue operations, power disruptions and diplomatic efforts continuing, the civilian toll remains one of the most urgent consequences of the war.