Rosenberg: Luhansk strike sparks Russian accusations and vow to retaliate

A strike on the town of Starobilsk in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine on the night of May 21-22 resulted in 18 deaths and 42 injuries. Russia's President Vladimir Putin labeled the incident a "terrorist strike," asserting no military facilities were in the vicinity and denying Russian air defense or electronic warfare systems were responsible. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed an attack near Starobilsk but stated it targeted a Russian military unit. Russia requested an emergency UN Security Council session, with its UN ambassador calling the strike a war crime. Denmark's representative countered that Russia's actions have caused widespread death and destruction across Ukraine.

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil terminal in Russia's Krasnodar region overnight, injuring two people. Local officials in Novorossiysk reported that falling drone debris sparked the blaze at an unnamed oil terminal, though Russian news outlet Astra identified it as the Sheskharis oil terminal. This incident marks another strike on Russia's oil industry, which Ukraine has increasingly targeted to disrupt funding for its invasion. Separately, the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike on a college dormitory in Starobilsk, in Russia-occupied Luhansk, rose to 11, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to denounce the attack as a "crime" and order retaliatory proposals. Ukraine has not yet commented on the oil terminal attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed retaliation after accusing Ukraine of a deadly attack on a student dormitory in Starobilsk, Luhansk region. Putin stated that six people were killed and 39 injured in the overnight strike, with 15 others missing. He asserted there were no military facilities in the vicinity to justify the strike being a result of Russian air defense or electronic warfare. Ukraine's military reported hitting the headquarters of Russia's elite Rubicon drone unit in Starobilsk, without confirming it was the same building. Putin ordered the Russian military to prepare proposals for retaliation, claiming the attack involved 16 drones launched in three waves.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to prepare retaliatory options against Ukraine following what he described as a drone attack on a student dorm in Starobilsk, Luhansk. The incident, which occurred on Friday, resulted in six deaths and dozens wounded, with 15 people still missing. Putin asserted that the Ukrainian military intentionally targeted the dorm. In response, Ukraine's military denied the accusations, stating they struck an elite drone command unit in the vicinity and affirmed their adherence to international humanitarian law.

Russia has labeled a Ukrainian drone attack on a student dormitory in Starobilsk, occupied Luhansk, a "monstrous crime" and "terrorist strike." Moscow-installed authorities reported that the overnight attack killed at least six people, wounded 39, and left 15 unaccounted for. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukrainian forces launched three waves of strikes at the location, where 86 children and teachers were present. The victims were aged between 14 and 18. Putin has instructed the Russian army to prepare suggestions for retaliation. Luhansk is one of the Ukrainian regions occupied by Russian forces.