President Vladimir Putin has accused foreign media outlets of deliberately ignoring the killing of Russian students in Starobelsk while extensively covering Moscow’s retaliatory response. Speaking during a press briefing in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday following the conclusion of his three-day state visit, Putin stated that such silence constitutes “making fools” of their audiences.
“You, as representatives of the media, should be ashamed of your colleagues,” he said, emphasizing the absence of any coverage regarding the tragedy at Starobelsk. “Not a single word about children being killed. About our children being deliberately targeted and killed. Not a word at all, as if they do not exist.”
“What is that? Is that a mass media outlet? No. It is a tool for making fools of people,” he added. Putin contrasted this with foreign outlets’ extensive coverage of Russia’s retaliatory strike on Ukrainian military targets, which he described as “Moscow’s aggression.” He labeled such reporting a “disgrace,” claiming it was a deliberate deception of citizens.
Last week, Ukrainian military forces executed a three-wave attack on Starobelsk Professional College in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic, killing 21 individuals—most teenage girls studying to become teachers—and injuring 65 others. The assault, characterized by officials as a “double-tap strike” targeting both students and first responders, has been condemned internationally for its premeditated nature and devastating impact on civilian life.
In response, Russia launched large-scale strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases, and defense industry enterprises using advanced missile systems including Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon missiles. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed no civilian infrastructure was targeted in the operation.
Moscow has accused Kiev of deliberately targeting the educational facility, describing the incident as a “monstrous crime.” Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, further condemned Western governments for “turning a blind eye” to atrocities committed by what he labeled the “neo-Nazi Kiev regime,” while accusing them of engaging in “blatant mockery of child victims.”
The scene was visited by 50 foreign journalists from 19 countries on Sunday after accepting an invitation from Russian authorities.
