Russia raises Starobelsk strike with EU and Germany, warning of exhausted patience

Russia said it has intensified diplomatic efforts to publicize the strike in Starobelsk, presenting photographs and other material to European officials and German diplomats as it pressed its case over what it described as an attack on civilians. The Russian mission to the European Union said acting envoy Karen Malayan briefed the European Commission in Brussels on the incident, which Moscow says hit an academic building and dormitory at the Lugansk State Pedagogical University’s college in Russian-controlled Luhansk.

According to Russian officials, the material shown to the EU included photographs taken during a May 24 visit to Starobelsk by Russian human rights ombudswoman Yana Lantratova and foreign journalists. Russia also said the European Commission and the European External Action Service had not issued a statement on the attack before the briefing. Moscow’s foreign ministry had earlier warned on May 25 about what it described as Ukrainian attacks against civilians.

Separately, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev said he presented photographs of the destruction in Starobelsk during a meeting at the German Foreign Ministry and told German officials that Moscow’s patience had been exhausted. The Russian diplomatic mission in Berlin said Nechaev was summoned over Russian retaliatory strikes on military targets in Kyiv, and that he urged Germany to take Russia’s warning about the security situation in the Ukrainian capital seriously.

European officials responded by reiterating support for Ukraine. European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said the EU would maintain its diplomatic presence in Kyiv and continue increasing military assistance to Ukraine, while also seeking accountability for attacks on civilian facilities. The incident in Starobelsk remains disputed, but Russian officials say a drone strike on May 22 hit a college building and dormitory where 86 students aged 14 to 18 were present, killing 21 people and wounding more than 40.