The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a strong statement in response to reports of drone strikes in Starobilsk, Luhansk Oblast, accusing Ukraine of attacking civilian infrastructure. The ministry’s remarks, shared via Telegram, characterize the strikes as deliberate assaults on the civilian population.
In its statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the nighttime drone attack on May 22 as indicative of Ukraine’s intent to target civilians, labeling the actions of the Ukrainian military as “terroristic” and a breach of international humanitarian law. The ministry further claimed that not only Ukrainian forces are responsible for these attacks but also their Western allies, whom Moscow accuses of supplying arms and providing intelligence support.
Amid these allegations, the Russian foreign office announced plans to conduct systematic strikes on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, particularly in Kyiv. The statement also mentioned potential strikes on decision-making centers and command posts.
“All of this has filled the cup of patience. Under the current circumstances, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will begin to systematically strike at Ukrainian defense industry enterprises in Kyiv, specifically targeting locations involved in the design, production, programming, and preparation for the use of drones employed by the Kyiv regime with NATO specialists’ assistance,” the statement read.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also warned foreign citizens and diplomatic missions to leave Kyiv and advised residents of the capital to avoid military and administrative infrastructure.
“Given that the aforementioned objects are scattered throughout Kyiv, we warn foreign citizens, including diplomatic mission personnel and representatives of international organizations, to leave the city as soon as possible, and residents of the Ukrainian capital should not approach the military and administrative infrastructure of the Zelensky regime,” the ministry added.
On the same day, Russian state media agency TASS reported a strike on an educational building and dormitory of the Starobilsk Professional College, attributing the attack to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has denied the Russian claims regarding strikes on civilian targets in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast. According to their information, Ukrainian forces targeted a command post of the “Rubicon” unit in occupied Starobilsk.
The General Staff further stated that “Rubicon” is a Russian military special unit known as the “Center for Advanced Drone Technologies,” whose members regularly conduct strikes against civilian populations and infrastructure within Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned Ukraine for alleged drone strikes in Starobilsk, Luhansk, asserting that these actions target civilians. In response, Russia plans to intensify military operations against Ukrainian defense facilities, particularly in Kyiv.