Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed retaliation against Ukraine following an alleged drone attack on a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied town of Starobilsk, eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin reported that the overnight strike killed six people and injured 39, with 15 still missing, according to state media.

In a statement from his Kremlin residence, Putin accused Ukraine of using 16 drones in three waves to target the dormitory, which he claimed contained no military or intelligence facilities. 'There is absolutely no basis for claiming the munitions struck the building due to our air defense or electronic warfare systems,' Putin declared. He ordered the Russian military to prepare 'proposals' for retaliation.

Ukraine's military later confirmed the attack, stating it targeted the headquarters of Russia's elite Rubicon drone military unit. The statement asserted Ukrainian forces 'are causing damage to military infrastructure and facilities used for military purposes, strictly adhering to international humanitarian law.'

Russian state television showed footage of an injured student identified as Diana Shovkun, 19, but did not provide images of the deceased. The BBC confirmed it could not independently verify the incident. This follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's claim that a Russian security service facility in Kherson was hit, killing about 100 Russian 'occupiers.'

The attack coincides with recent civilian casualties, including the May 17 missile strike on Kyiv that killed 24 people. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians, a charge Moscow denies. The conflicting narratives highlight the escalating toll of the war on occupied territories, with both sides claiming adherence to international law while accusing the other of war crimes.}