Russia expressed outrage on Friday after reporting that a Ukrainian drone attack killed at least four people in the occupied Luhansk region, with Moscow-installed governor Leonid Pasechnik stating a student dormitory in Starobilsk was hit.
The Kremlin, which has killed thousands in Ukraine since launching its full-scale invasion over four years ago, described the attack as a 'monstrous crime' and called for those responsible to face justice, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Pasechnik said Ukrainian drones struck a five-story dormitory belonging to Luhansk Pedagogical University during an overnight attack, causing the building to collapse to its second floor. About 86 children and teachers were inside at the time, with at least 35 injured, three critically, and some trapped under rubble. Victims were aged between 14 and 18.
'Rescuers continue to pull out injured children and bodies of the dead, despite a repeated threat of more UAV attacks,' reported Al Jazeera's Moscow correspondent Yulia Shapovalova.
Luhansk, over which Russia claimed full control in April, is one of four Ukrainian regions occupied or partially occupied by Russian forces. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war that began with Moscow's cross-border assault in February 2022.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told state-owned RIA Novosti that the strike was a 'deliberate' attack against children. Ukraine has yet to respond to the allegations or the reported attack.
Moscow has launched a criminal investigation, with Russia's Investigative Committee claiming Ukraine used four UAVs to strike the dormitory and other buildings in Starobilsk. Photos and video released by Russian authorities showed rescue workers carrying a man from rubble of severely damaged buildings, one of which appeared partially collapsed with fires still burning.
Russia's human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said they expect international organizations to respond to the attack on a 'civilian facility where children study and live.' Russia's Defense Ministry reported shooting down 217 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country.
Constant attacks by Ukraine have 'negatively impacted' Russia's oil and domestic petrol production, said Shapovalova, with analysts warning of significant disruptions to Russia's economy and its ability to continue the war with Ukraine.
The report of the Luhansk attack follows a pledge by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to respond to Russia's recent raid on Kyiv which killed 24 people.
Source: www.aljazeera.com