Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday described a suspected Ukrainian strike on a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied region of Luhansk as a “terrorist act” that left multiple people dead.
Putin, speaking to graduates of the state-run training programme in Moscow, said at least six people had been killed, 39 injured and 15 were missing.
According to Russian authorities, the building of a vocational school in the town of Starobilsk was hit overnight by a Ukrainian drone.
“There are absolutely no military facilities, intelligence facilities or related services near the dormitory,” Putin said. “No one can claim that the building was hit by accident.”
In contrast, the Ukrainian General Staff announced on Friday evening that one of the headquarters of the Russian military special forces unit Rubicon had been hit in the area of Starobilsk.
It said the unit had been involved in the construction of drones, which were regularly used for attacks on the civilian population and civilian targets in Ukraine. The military leadership in Kiev emphasized that it adheres to international humanitarian law and does not attack civilian targets.
Putin said he had instructed Russia’s Defence Ministry to prepare proposals for a response. He also promised support for the relatives of those killed and for the injured.
According to official Russian figures, 86 teenagers aged between 14 and 18 were in the five-storey dormitory at the time of the attack.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly criticized the attack. "We strongly condemn any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur," a spokesman for the UN chief said in New York.
Guterres has repeatedly emphasized that such attacks are prohibited under international law and must cease immediately, the spokesman continued. "We urge all concerned to refrain from any actions that would further escalate the already dangerous situation."
At Russia's request, the UN Security Council met in New York to discuss the matter.
Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than four years, with civilians in Ukraine killed or injured on a near-daily basis, including in repeated strikes on residential buildings, schools, hospitals and kindergartens.
Russia claims to have full control over the Luhansk region, which it annexed in 2022.
