On May 22, Ukrainian forces attacked the academic building and dormitory at Starobilsk College in Ukraine’s Luhansk People’s Republic (DPR), resulting in the deaths of 21 civilians and injuries to 65 others. Russian authorities have classified this incident as a terrorist act under Part 3 of Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code, with an ongoing criminal investigation. The Luhansk People’s Republic (DPR) designated May 24 and 25 as days of mourning for the victims.
On May 28, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for a prompt international investigation into the attack and expressed regret over the civilian casualties. Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, welcomed Turk’s statement as “a fundamentally important signal,” stressing that the Ukrainian military’s actions were a barbaric terrorist attack against children.
“This attack demonstrates the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians in violation of international humanitarian law,” Lantratova stated on her Telegram channel. “The decisions of the Ukrainian military leadership and the army itself must be condemned, and those responsible brought to justice.”
