Seven killed after drone strike hits bus in Russia-controlled Donetsk region

What happened

Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-installed leader of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, reported that a drone hit a passenger bus traveling between Moscow and Simferopol in Russian-occupied Crimea early Wednesday, killing seven civilians and injuring 11 others. Pushilin described the strike as occurring in Yenakiyevo, a city within the Russia-controlled part of Ukraine.

The central claim remains unconfirmed in the supplied material and should be treated as hearsay until corroborated by another reliable source or a named official. Russian authorities characterized the incident as a "terrorist attack" on civilians and have opened a criminal investigation. Svetlana Petrenko, a spokesperson for the Russian Investigative Committee, said officials are working to identify those responsible for the drone strike. Reuters reported that 53 people were registered to be on the bus, though no victims’ identities have been disclosed.

The bus strike comes amid continued drone attacks exchanged between Ukrainian and Russian-controlled territories. Russian officials said they shot down 350 Ukrainian drones overnight in several regions including Belgorod, Kursk, and near Moscow. Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed an oil terminal in St Petersburg was hit in a separate attack, raising the stakes amid the city’s International Economic Forum.

Known from the source

• Denis Pushilin stated a drone hit a passenger bus in Yenakiyevo, Donetsk region controlled by Russia.
• Pushilin reported seven civilians killed and 11 injured in the drone strike on the bus.
• The bus was traveling between Moscow and Simferopol in Russian-occupied Crimea.
• Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case describing the strike as a 'terrorist attack' on civilians.
• Russian officials reported shooting down 350 Ukrainian drones overnight in multiple regions.

What remains unclear

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian government’s centre for combating disinformation, described Russian state media narratives about the strike as attempts to create a "parallel reality" that shifts blame onto Ukraine, a claim unverified in the supplied material. The BBC has sought comment from the Ukrainian military on this incident but had not received a response by the time of the report.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent verification of the drone strike on the bus and casualty numbers. Verification of the bus route and its presence in Yenakiyevo at the time of the strike. Verification from Ukrainian military or independent sources regarding responsibility.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: BBC Europe Ukraine. Open the source.