Russia condemns ‘monstrous crime’ after Ukrainian drone strike kills four in occupied Luhansk
Moscow-installed officials report at least four deaths and 35 injuries following the overnight attack, as Ukraine remains silent on allegations of targeting educational facilities.
Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation following a reported Ukrainian drone strike on a student dormitory in Starobilsk, within the occupied Luhansk region. The attack on the five-storey building belonging to Luhansk Pedagogical University caused it to collapse to its second floor, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals aged between 14 and 18.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-installed regional governor, stated that approximately 86 children and teachers were inside the facility at the time of the strike. In addition to the fatalities, at least 35 people were injured, with three in critical condition and others trapped beneath the rubble. The Kremlin described the incident as a “monstrous crime,” while Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova characterised the strike as a deliberate attack against children.
The Russian Investigative Committee alleged that four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were used to target the dormitory and other structures in Starobilsk. Photos and video footage released by Russian authorities depicted rescue workers extracting a man from the debris of severely damaged buildings, with fires still burning in the aftermath. Despite repeated warnings of further UAV attacks, rescue operations continued to extract the injured and recover bodies.
Luhansk is one of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia, with Moscow asserting full control since April 2022. The conflict began with a cross-border assault by Russian forces in February 2022, and both sides continue to deny targeting civilians in the ongoing war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called for those responsible for the strike to face justice, while human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova urged international organisations to respond to the attack on a civilian facility.
The incident follows a pledge by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to respond to a recent Russian raid on Kyiv that killed 24 people. Ukraine has not yet responded to the allegations regarding the Luhansk dormitory strike. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that 217 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across the country, and analysts have warned that sustained Ukrainian attacks are negatively impacting Russia’s oil and domestic petrol production, potentially disrupting the economy and war effort.
