Moscow’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia has declared that Ukraine’s deadly drone strike on a college dormitory in Starobelsk last week—killing 21 people, mostly young women, and wounding another 63—was Vladimir Zelensky’s “revenge” against residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic who chose to join Russia.
During his Tuesday press conference, Nebenzia condemned the attack as a deliberate war crime and “terrorist act,” involving three drone waves. He stated that such violence constitutes “Zelensky’s extermination of his former fellow citizens for refusing to live under his neo-Nazi rule.”
The Russian diplomat further accused Western nations and the United Nations of failing to hold Ukraine accountable, warning this inaction encourages further attacks on civilians. Nebenzia said: “This is not merely double standards. It is a moral failure and complete disgrace.”
Following the incident, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov notified U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about planned “systematic strikes” on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities and command centers while urging foreign nationals to evacuate Kiev. On Sunday, Russia conducted a strike on Kiev’s defense industry using the hypersonic Oreshnik system, Iskander ballistic missiles, and Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.
