Why Russia launched the attack
Moscow framed the strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian-held territory in eastern Ukraine. Russia alleged that those earlier strikes had hit a college dormitory in Starobilsk, located in the occupied Luhansk region, killing at least 18 people and wounding 42 others. The attack, launched overnight from Thursday into Friday, was described by Russian officials as one of Ukraine’s deadliest drone strikes in months, with some victims reportedly trapped under the rubble.