Putin Calls for Retaliation After Deadly Drone Strike on Starobelsk Dormitory
The incident occurred on May 22, when a series of drone strikes reportedly hit a college dormitory in waves during the night while students were asleep. The building sustained severe damage and partially collapsed. Reports say 21 people were killed, most of them teenage girls.
A meeting was later held on Monday involving senior Russian officials, including Investigative Committee head Aleksander Bastrykin, Prosecutor General Aleksander Gutsan, and Leonid Pasechnik. Discussions focused on the ongoing investigation into the attack as well as support measures for injured survivors and bereaved families.
During the session, Putin condemned the strike in strong terms and emphasized accountability for those involved. He stated that the perpetrators “must suffer a “well-deserved and inevitable punishment,”” and added that they would face consequences regardless of circumstances.
He also expressed sympathy for those affected, offering his “deepest condolences to the families” and stressing the importance of providing full assistance, saying authorities should “treat every person and every family facing this tragedy with the utmost care.”
Putin further claimed the attack marked a broader escalation, asserting that “the Kiev leadership has decided to open a new chapter in its crime spree, to add a new dimension to the conflict as a whole,” and added, “Well, it was their choice to make,” indicating that further decisions, including possible responses, would be addressed privately.
Following the strike, Moscow announced plans for intensified military actions, describing them as “systematic and consistent strikes” targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure, drone production facilities, command structures, and so-called “decision-making centers.” Authorities also advised foreign citizens and diplomatic missions to leave Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials have rejected responsibility for the incident. Some have offered differing explanations, including claims that the damaged building was being used as a command post for an elite drone unit known as “Rubicon,” while others have dismissed the entire account as a “fake story” promoted by Moscow.
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