The death toll from a drone strike on a student dormitory in the Russian-controlled town of Starobilsk, in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk region, has risen. While initial reports cited six deaths, Russian-installed officials later stated the number had increased to 10, and then to 16, with most of the victims being young women. Russian President Vladimir Putin subsequently stated that at least 18 people were killed in the attack.
Leonid Pasechnik, head of the Russian-installed administration in the region, reported that 48 people were injured and 11 remain unaccounted for. President Putin condemned the drone barrage, describing the strike as deliberate, and has ordered the military to prepare options for retaliation.
Ukraine's military has disputed the accusations and denied the Russian claims. Kyiv stated that the strike targeted an elite drone command unit in the area and asserted that it complied with international humanitarian law. The incident has also been the subject of a heated debate at the United Nations.