Ukrainian Drone Strike in Russian-Occupied Luhansk Kills at Least 10

At least 10 people died after a Ukrainian military drone struck a university complex and dormitories in the Russia-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine, authorities reported Saturday. Russia's state-run news agency RIA cited the emergency ministry, confirming 12 deaths.

The incident occurred early Friday in Starobilsk, a town about 65 kilometers from the eastern Ukraine front line, which Russian forces have controlled since 2022. Search and rescue operations were underway, with 38 people wounded and nine teenage students missing, according to Leonid Pasechnik, governor of the occupied Luhansk region.

Pasechnik stated on Telegram that rescuers worked through the night clearing rubble, but hopes were dashed as the death toll rose. He indicated that most victims were 19-year-old girls. Kyiv denied targeting civilians, asserting that the strike hit a Russian drone unit stationed in the Starobilsk area. Russia's Foreign Ministry vowed "inevitable and severe punishment" for those responsible, while President Vladimir Putin condemned the drone barrage and ordered the army to prepare a response, denying the presence of military facilities near the university.

“

Rescuers worked through the night clearing the rubble in Starobelsk. Unfortunately, hopes were not fulfilled, the death toll has risen to 10.

This attack on Starobilsk is one of several recent Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on social media platform X that Ukraine's military had struck a large chemical plant, Metafrax Chemical, in Russia's Perm region, approximately 1,700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Zelenskyy noted that the plant's products supply numerous Russian military production facilities, including those for aircraft, drones, missile engines, and explosives, and that its production process has now been halted.

Additionally, Russian officials in the Krasnodar region reported that a Ukrainian drone caused a fire at an oil terminal overnight. Falling drone debris reportedly ignited the terminal, injuring two people. The specific facility was not identified by Russian officials.

“

The company's products supply dozens of other Russian military production facilities, including aircraft equipment and drones, missile engines, and explosives. The production process at the enterprise has now been halted.