The death toll from a Russian missile strike near a passenger bus in the Kharkiv region has increased to three, according to local prosecutors. The attack, which occurred on March 13, resulted in the deaths of the bus driver and two passengers.
Authorities reported that the incident took place around 09:05 near the village of Nova Olexandrivka in the Kupiansk district. Preliminary investigations suggest that an Iskander-M missile was used in the assault, which struck while a bus traveling from Velikiy Burluk to Kharkiv was nearby.
In addition to the fatalities, four individuals sustained injuries, including three passengers and a local resident. The bus and several private homes were also damaged during the strike.
A criminal investigation has been initiated under Article 438 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which addresses war crimes resulting in loss of life. Earlier reports indicated that a drone strike had targeted the bus, leading to one death and four injuries.
Public transportation has frequently been a target of Russian attacks. Recently, a drone strike in Kherson hit a minibus, injuring 20 individuals, many of whom required hospitalization.
Russian forces have consistently targeted Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various weapons, including drones and missiles. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations classify these attacks as war crimes, emphasizing their deliberate nature.
Attacks on essential services and healthcare facilities are viewed as attempts to deprive civilians of basic needs such as electricity, heating, and medical assistance. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue that these actions may constitute genocide, given the systematic targeting of the Ukrainian population.
The United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted in 1948, obligates member states to prevent and punish acts of genocide both in wartime and peacetime.
Despite widespread evidence, Russian leadership denies that its military intentionally targets civilian infrastructure, asserting that such claims are unfounded.
A Russian missile strike in the Kharkiv region has resulted in three deaths, including a bus driver and two passengers. The incident, which also left four others injured, is under investigation as a war crime.