Occupied Luhansk governor: Death toll from school attack rises to 10

The death toll from an attack on a school in Starobilsk, in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, has climbed to 10, with 48 people injured and the whereabouts of 11 students still unknown. Leonid Pasechnik, the governor of the occupied Luhansk region, announced the grim figures Saturday after rescue teams worked through the night clearing rubble.

Starobilsk is located approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces captured the city shortly after the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called the attack a "terrorist act" and ordered the Defense Ministry to prepare a response, though he did not provide further details.

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Rescuers worked all night clearing the rubble in Starobilsk. Unfortunately, hopes did not materialize – the death toll has risen to 10. A total of 48 people were injured. The location of 11 students is still unknown.

Ukraine's General Staff reported Friday that its forces had struck a "Rubikon" unit headquarters in the Starobilsk district. However, they also noted that Russian media was actively disseminating "manipulative information" regarding alleged Ukrainian strikes on civilian infrastructure. This statement suggests a divergence in accounts regarding the nature and target of the attack.

The incident highlights the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and the differing narratives presented by Ukrainian and Russian sources regarding military actions and their consequences.

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Our forces struck one of the 'Rubikon' unit headquarters in the Starobilsk district. Meanwhile, manipulative information is being actively spread in the Russian media about alleged strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on civilian infrastructure facilities.