Russia: Ukraine hit dorm, 18 dead; Ukraine says it hit military target

A Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian dormitory in Starobilsk, Luhansk region, killed at least 18 people overnight, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced. The five-story building, belonging to Luhansk Pedagogical University, collapsed to its second floor, injuring 42 others and leaving three potentially trapped under rubble. Victims included students aged 14 to 18, with 86 children and teachers inside at the time. Putin labeled the attack a deliberate terrorist strike and ordered the military to prepare for retaliation. He claimed three waves of 16 drones were used, targeting the dormitory despite no military facilities in the area, according to his statements in Moscow. Ukraine’s military denied responsibility for civilian casualties, stating it struck the headquarters of Russia’s Rubicon drone military unit in Starobilsk. The BBC reported Ukraine did not confirm whether the same building was targeted. Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN, Andrii Melnyk, rejected war crimes accusations, calling them propaganda and insisting attacks targeted only Russia’s war machine. Regional Governor Leonid Pasechnik confirmed the dormitory was hit, while Putin’s initial report of six deaths was later revised upward. Search-and-rescue efforts continued as authorities assessed the full extent of the damage. The incident escalated tensions, prompting an emergency UN Security Council meeting called by Russia, where Melnyk dismissed claims of intentional civilian harm.