KYIV, Oct 9 — Ukraine yesterday accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians after 30 people were killed when two buses were blown up in the frontline city of Kramatorsk, in one of the deadliest attacks in weeks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that the attack “will not go unanswered” after photos posted by local authorities showed the burnt-out metal shell of the vehicles, with bodies and debris strewn across the road.

“Russia is trying to destroy all life in (the) Donbas (region) and the world must respond to this,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram, warning the death toll could rise.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the current stalemate after nearly five years of fighting was “very dangerous” and could lead to escalation.