In a new episode of violence against civilians that worsens the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, the Russia accused the Ukraine of killing eight people and injuring 11 others in a drone attack this Wednesday (3) that hit a passenger bus in the Donetsk region, in eastern Ukraine, under Russian control.
According to Denis Pushilin, head of the administration installed by Moscow in the region, the drone hit the vehicle in the town of Ienakiievo. The bus was on the route between Moscow and Simferopol, in Crimea, also controlled by Russia.
In a statement, Pushilin wrote that Ukrainian forces committed “yet another act of unprecedented inhumane aggression.” Ukraine had not commented on the accusation. Both Kiev and Moscow deny deliberately targeting civilians during the conflict.
According to Russian authorities, 53 people were registered to travel on the bus. Investigators opened a criminal case into what they called a “terrorist attack” and said they were working to identify those responsible.
Images released by authorities show the destroyed bus near the road. The metal roof appears collapsed, the interior was consumed by fire and all the windows were destroyed. Other footage shows the drone approaching the back of the vehicle before exploding. Soon after, the image is covered by a cloud of dust and smoke.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the attack was part of Ukraine’s hunt for civilians. Rodion Miroshnik, the ministry’s special ambassador, said that the action aimed to intimidate the population.
Miroshnik also accused Ukraine of using Western military and financial support to disrupt civilian transport links and create unsustainable living conditions for the population.
The episode occurred a day after Russia carried out a massive attack with drones and missiles against Ukraine, which, according to local authorities, killed 23 people and injured 130. Moscow said the offensive was a response to a Ukrainian attack on a dormitory in an area of the Lugansk region controlled by Russia. Kiev denies targeting the site.
THE Ukraine This Wednesday, he also attacked an oil export terminal in St. Petersburg hours before the start of an annual economic forum, in an attempt, according to analysts, to embarrass the president Vladimir Putin and show how vulnerable large Russian cities are.
The attack on St. Petersburg, Putin’s hometown and home of Russia’s main economic forum — often compared to the Davos Forum for its role in attracting foreign investment and projecting the country’s image — occurred at a time of escalating clashes between Moscow and Kiev, after more than four years of war with no prospect of an end.
A column of smoke could be seen from the city’s historic center after an oil export terminal was hit. Reuters news agency correspondents reported hearing loud explosions on Wednesday morning.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymir Zelenskyconfirmed that Ukrainian drones hit the fuel terminal and stated that a military installation near Russia’s second largest city was also the target of the operation. “I believe these attacks are fair. Just a day ago there was a large-scale attack. We responded accordingly,” he told reporters in Kiev.
The Ukrainian president added that it is only a matter of time before the country is able to increase the intensity of its responses to Russian attacks.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said unspecified “infrastructure objects” were hit in three different districts of the city. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said that Russian air defenses shot down 59 drones overnight.
Pulkovo airport had to temporarily restrict its operations, according to the Russian aviation agency. According to local press, more than 30 flights were canceled or delayed.
Attacks with Ukrainian drones in regions of Russian territory are causing panic in the Kremlin, the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on Wednesday in an interview with the AFP news agency. According to her, Moscow’s reaction has been to intensify attacks against Ukraine.
“This clearly shows that there is also panic on the Russian side. The fact that terrorist attacks against Ukraine are increasing indicates that they do not know how to deal with this type of action,” he said.
