By Joy Omagha Idam
The Russian Federation has accused Ukraine of carrying out a deadly attack on a student hostel in Starobelsk, located in the Luhansk region, describing the incident as a deliberate act of terrorism against civilians and calling for international condemnation.
According to a statement released by the Russian Embassy, the attack occurred in the early hours of May 22 and targeted a college facility belonging to the Lugansk State Pedagogical University. Russian authorities claim that 86 students between the ages of 14 and 18 were inside the five-storey dormitory when it was struck, causing a partial collapse of the building.
The embassy said nearly 50 people sustained injuries, while 21 students reportedly lost their lives. It further alleged that nearby residential buildings, administrative structures and public facilities were also damaged during the strike.
Russia maintains that there were no military installations or strategic targets near the college and described the attack as a direct assault on civilians. The statement rejected any suggestion of military justification, insisting that the nearest military infrastructure was several kilometres away from the site.
The Russian Investigative Committee has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into the incident. Moscow vowed to identify and prosecute all those responsible, including those alleged to have ordered and executed the attack.
In the strongly worded statement, Russia linked the incident to what it described as a broader pattern of attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Donbass region over the past decade. The embassy accused the Ukrainian government of targeting schools, hospitals and residential communities, allegations that Ukraine has consistently denied throughout the conflict.
The Russian government also criticised Western nations for their continued military support for Ukraine, arguing that such assistance contributes to the escalation of hostilities. Moscow expressed disappointment with what it termed the international community’s “selective response” to civilian casualties in territories under Russian control.
Russia further disclosed that it requested a joint meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council and Parliamentary Assembly following the incident. According to the embassy, the request was not granted. Instead, it claimed that discussions focused on Russia’s subsequent actions rather than the reported deaths of students in Starobelsk.
Calling for what it described as an objective and principled assessment of the incident, the Russian Federation urged international organisations, governments and human rights bodies to investigate the attack and publicly condemn those responsible.
As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, competing narratives over battlefield events and civilian casualties remain a defining feature of the conflict. Independent verification of claims from both sides often remains challenging due to restricted access to affected areas and the ongoing hostilities.
For Russia, the Starobelsk tragedy has become another focal point in its campaign to draw international attention to civilian casualties in territories under its control, while the wider conflict continues to deepen geopolitical divisions across Europe and beyond.