Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out a deadly strike on a student dormitory in Starobelsk, in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region, killing 21 people and injuring dozens more.
In a statement, the Russian Embassy said the attack took place in the early hours of 22 May and targeted a college building and dormitory belonging to Lugansk State Pedagogical University. According to Russian authorities, 86 students aged between 14 and 18 were inside the five-storey building when it was struck, causing part of the structure to collapse.
The embassy said nearly 50 people were injured and that surrounding residential and administrative buildings also sustained damage. It described the incident as a “deliberate terrorist attack against civilians” and claimed there were no military facilities in the immediate vicinity of the site.
“The building collapsed to the second floor. Nearly 50 people were injured. Tragically, 21 lost their lives,” the statement said. It added that Russia’s Investigative Committee had opened a criminal investigation and pledged that those responsible would be identified and prosecuted.
The Russian government also criticised international organisations, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), claiming that calls for discussions on the incident had not received adequate attention. The embassy urged the international community to condemn the attack and conduct what it described as an “honest and principled assessment” of the events in Starobelsk.
Ukraine has not publicly responded to the allegations. The BBC has not independently verified the claims made by Russian authorities regarding the circumstances of the strike or the reported casualty figures.
