Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned a deadly strike on a college dormitory in Starobilsk, Luhansk, blaming Ukrainian forces and alleging NATO-backed involvement as tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict continue to escalate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday strongly condemned what Moscow described as a deadly attack by Ukrainian armed forces on a college dormitory in Starobilsk, located in the Luhansk region. Russian officials alleged that the overnight strike targeted civilians, including teenage students, and accused Kyiv of escalating the ongoing conflict through attacks on non-military facilities.
According to reports carried by Russia’s state-owned Tass news agency, Putin made the remarks during a meeting with graduates of the “Time of Heroes” programme. He described the incident as a “terrorist attack” carried out by what he called the “Neo-Nazi regime that seized power in Kyiv.” The Russian leader claimed that the strike occurred while students were asleep inside the dormitory building.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also issued a strongly worded statement condemning the attack and accusing Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians. The ministry claimed that the assault represented a dangerous escalation in the conflict and accused Kyiv of undermining diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the war.
Russian authorities stated that the attack struck a five-storey dormitory belonging to the College of Lugansk State Pedagogical University in Starobilsk. Officials said that 86 students between the ages of 14 and 18 were inside the building at the time of the incident.
According to the latest information released by Russian authorities, at least four people were killed and around 40 others suffered injuries in the strike. Emergency services reportedly continued rescue and medical operations following the attack.
The Russian Foreign Ministry alleged that the strike was conducted using long-range weapons supplied by NATO countries. Moscow further claimed that Western nations had provided intelligence support and target designation assistance to Ukrainian forces. However, no independent verification of those claims has been publicly confirmed.
“This strike could not have been accidental. It was a deliberate attack on civilians,” the ministry said in its statement, adding that there were no military facilities near the college and that none of the individuals inside the building were participating in combat operations.
Russian officials also called upon international organisations, foreign governments and global humanitarian groups to condemn the attack. The ministry argued that violence against civilians and children marked a new and dangerous phase in the conflict.
The incident comes amid continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides frequently accusing each other of targeting civilian infrastructure. The war, which has continued for more than four years, has caused thousands of civilian casualties and extensive destruction across multiple regions.
While Moscow has blamed Ukrainian forces for the Starobilsk strike, there has been no immediate official response from Kyiv regarding the allegations. Independent international agencies have also not yet verified the circumstances surrounding the attack.
| Also Read: Bangladesh Faces Global Criticism Over Press Freedom Crackdown |
The latest incident is expected to further intensify tensions between Russia and Western countries already divided over military assistance to Ukraine and efforts to secure a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
