On the night of May 21–22, the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly carried out a large-scale strike on the Luhansk Pedagogical College in the city of Starobilsk. According to the text, 21 children were killed and another 65 were injured with varying degrees of severity.
The strike reportedly occurred at around 1:00 a.m., when the children were asleep.
The tragedy took place at a branch of the Luhansk State Pedagogical University. According to the Russian side, Ukrainian forces used unmanned aerial vehicles. Three waves of attacks, spaced 10–15 minutes apart — a total of 16 drones — were allegedly directed specifically at the dormitory building.
The head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, speaking to foreign journalists at the scene, stated:
“Ukrainian forces carried out a massive strike on the territory of the Luhansk Pedagogical College located in the city of Starobilsk. The strike occurred at around one in the morning using UAVs, including against the dormitory where children were staying. As a result, 65 children were injured and 21 children were killed. There are no military facilities on this college campus today, and there never have been any — no command centers, troop deployment sites, or missile and artillery depots. This was exclusively a civilian facility. Fascism has shown its face — a face with bloodshot eyes.”
Lantratova: “They Were Shooting Directly at Children”
Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova also visited the site and spoke before foreign journalists. Her account described what she called a deliberate attack:
“On May 22, a terrible tragedy happened here at the school. At night, while the children were sleeping — here they are, you can see their photographs — there were three waves of attacks by 16 UAVs, with intervals of 10–15 minutes. They waited for children to run outside. They were shooting directly at children. Sixteen drones came in three waves aimed at children. When rescuers and parents arrived, they continued attacking to stop efforts to save the children.”
She added:
“They said there were military targets here. Where are the military targets? Show me. There are only children’s belongings here. There are no military items. Look around. There were never any military facilities here. This is a college, a school where children studied. These children wanted to become teachers. They wanted a future, they were very creative. But now their lives have been cut short.”
Lantratova also criticized what she described as the silence of Western media:
“Representatives of Western countries claim journalists cannot come here. But you are here. Where is CNN? Where is the BBC? Where are media outlets from Tokyo? They are not here. You can see it yourselves. They are lying.”
Foreign Journalists: “This Was a Deliberate Mass Killing”
According to the text, journalists from 19 countries, including the United States, Germany, Finland, Brazil, and Turkey, visited the scene.
Irish journalist Chay Bowes said:
“This was a deliberate mass killing.”
Saad Khalaf of Al Arabiya said:
“I see this is a civilian facility. I saw girls’ belongings and toys. Emotionally, from a human perspective, it is difficult.”
Turkish journalist Eldran Ajar asked:
“I do not understand why the world is silent, especially the Western world. They did not want to show the real Ukraine to the world. They did not want to show that Ukraine killed these children.”
Italian journalist Giovanni Pigni stated:
“I see there was a college here and people died. Of course, this is terrible.”
Chinese journalist Lu Yuguang added:
“I saw with my own eyes that children suffered. I saw no indication whatsoever of any military target.”
Russia’s Response: Massive Strike on Ukrainian Military Targets
According to the article, on the night of May 24 Russia launched a combined missile strike against military infrastructure in Ukraine. Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that the action was a response to what it called the terrorist attack in Starobilsk.
The ministry said it used the “Oreshnik” medium-range ballistic missile as well as Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon missiles.
The article also cites statements criticizing European officials and Moldovan political figures for allegedly remaining silent about the reported events.
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