Russia labels Ukraine attack in occupied Luhansk monstrous crime'

A Ukrainian drone attack in occupied Luhansk reportedly struck a five-storey student dormitory in Starobilsk belonging to Luhansk Pedagogical University. The building collapsed to its second floor after the overnight impact. Russian authorities said about 86 children and teachers were inside when the drone struck, and at least 35 people were injured, including three in critical condition. Some victims were trapped under rubble, and rescuers continued recovery efforts despite warnings of possible further UAV attacks. The Kremlin and Russian officials condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on children and called for those responsible to face justice. Russia launched a criminal investigation, alleging Ukraine used four UAVs in the attack.

"Leonid Pasechnik reported on Friday that a student dormitory in Starobilsk was hit. He said Ukrainian drones hit a five-storey dormitory belonging to Luhansk Pedagogical University during the overnight attack. The building then collapsed to its second-floor. About 86 children and teachers were inside when the drone struck, Russian authorities said. At least 35 were injured, three critically, with some trapped under the rubble. The victims were aged between 14 and 18."

"Rescuers continue to pull out the injured children and bodies of the dead, despite a repeated threat of more UAV attacks, said Yulia Shapovalova, Al Jazeera's Moscow correspondent. Luhansk, over which Russia claimed full control in April, is one of four Ukrainian regions occupied or partly occupied by Russian forces. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the continuing war, which was sparked by Moscow's forces launching a cross-border assault in February 2022."

"The Kremlin described it as a monstrous crime. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called for those responsible to face justice. “This is a monstrous crime. An attack on an educational institution where children and young people are present,” he said, according to Reuters news agency. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told state-owned news agency RIA Novosti that the strike was a deliberate attack against children."

"Moscow has launched a criminal investigation. According to Russia's Investigative Committee, Ukraine used four UAVs to strike the dormitory. Ukraine is yet to respond to Russia's allegations, or the reported attack on the dormitory. Russia has expressed outrage as it reported that a Ukrainian drone attack killed at least four people in the occupied Luhansk region."

Read at www.aljazeera.com