Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday (May 22) that Ukrainian forces deliberately struck a student dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region overnight.

Putin said at least six people were killed, 39 injured and 15 reported missing, as emergency teams continued rescue efforts at the scene.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 22, 2026) (RUSSIAN POOL - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ARRIVING FOR MEETING

2. AUDIENCE LISTENING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"Last night, the neo-Nazi regime that seized power in Kyiv launched a terrorist attack on the student dormitory of the Starobilsk Pedagogical College. It was during the night, when the students were asleep. According to reports - I've been listening to them the entire time - from the head of the (Luhansk People's) Republic, Leonid Ivanovich Pasechnik, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Emergency Situations, and the Director of the FSB, we currently know that six people were killed, 39 were injured, and 15 are missing, as the rubble is still being cleared."

4. AUDIENCE LISTENING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"I want to emphasize, this is important: there are no military facilities, special services facilities, or related services near the dormitory. Therefore, there is no basis for claiming that the shells struck the building under the influence of our air defense or electronic warfare systems. No one can claim that they were attempting to hit some target, but the UAVs were shot down by our own means and allegedly hit the building by accident. The strike was not random. It occurred in three waves, 16 UAVs, all targeting the same location."

6. AUDIENCE LISTENING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to inform international organizations and the international community about this crime. But, of course, we understand that in such cases, statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone are not enough. Therefore, the Russian Ministry of Defense has been ordered to submit its proposals. And now I would like to ask everyone to rise and honor the memory of the victims."

8. VARIOUS OF PUTIN AND AUDIENCE STANDING UP AND OBSERVING MINUTE OF SILENCE / PUTIN AND AUDIENCE SITTING DOWN