Putin Vows Punishment After Deadly Starobilsk Strike
During a Kremlin meeting focused on the May 22 strike, Putin said those responsible would be held accountable, describing the attack as a deliberate escalation of the conflict.
The assault targeted a student dormitory at Starobilsk College of Luhansk Pedagogical University, killing 21 people and injuring 44 others, according to Russian authorities.
Putin said: "It seems that by deliberately committing the most serious crime against children and teenagers, the Kyiv leadership has decided to write a new chapter in its history of crimes and give the conflict a new dimension. Well, that is their choice."
The Russian leader instructed Prosecutor General Alexander Gutsan and Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin to provide updates on efforts to identify those allegedly involved in the attack.
"I would ask you to provide your assessments of what happened and to report on how the work to identify these criminals is progressing. They must all receive their deserved punishment. And it will be inevitable," he said.
According to Leonid Pasechnik, the Russia-appointed head of the Luhansk region, Ukrainian forces used 16 drones during the operation.
"Of the 89 people present at the time of the strike, 45 sought medical assistance while 21 were killed," he said.
Pasechnik said emergency crews spent 45 hours conducting rescue operations, which were repeatedly interrupted by concerns over additional attacks. He said responders received at least 15 warnings of possible follow-up strikes during the effort.
He also stated that the college building sustained extensive damage and would need to be rebuilt.
Bastrykin, meanwhile, alleged that Ukrainian forces were using drones manufactured both domestically and in NATO member states to conduct attacks on Russian-controlled areas. He claimed that more than 2,000 educational institutions had been targeted since 2014 and said at least seven drones participated in the Starobilsk strike.
According to Bastrykin, the presence of Starlink antennas on the drones suggested the attack had been intentionally planned.
Separately, Gutsan alleged that Ukrainian drone forces commander Robert Brovdi, military intelligence chief Oleg Ivashchenko, and several other Ukrainian military commanders bore responsibility for the attack.
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