Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of intentionally targeting civilians after a "terrorist" overnight drone attack on a school that left six dead and scores of young people wounded.
At least 39 were injured and counting, amid ongoing rescue efforts after a school complex was torn apart on the multi-drone strike attack. It happened at a school dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region. Over a dozen victims are still missing, including children, reports say.
Putin blasted the mass casualty incident as a "terrorist attack by the neo-Nazi regime" while vowing swift revenge.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry has been instructed to inform international organizations and the international community about this crime," Putin said. "In such cases, statements from the Foreign Ministry alone would not suffice. Therefore, the Russian Defense Ministry has been ordered to submit its proposals."
Large-scale destruction was observed at the academic building and dormitory of the Starobelsk Professional College, which teaches students aged 14 to 18. Over 80 students were at the complex at the time of the attack.
Additionally, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said those responsible needed to be brought to justice, calling it "a monstrous crime" - given the "attack on an educational institution where children and young people are present."
"The most important thing now is to take measures to clear the rubble and provide assistance to those who are still trapped beneath it," Peskov added.
Britain's Sky News has noted that the Ukrainian government has yet to acknowledge the attack:
Severely damaged buildings could also be seen, one of which appeared to have partially collapsed, as well as fires still burning.
Ukraine has yet to comment. Its forces are fighting to try to recapture Luhansk, one of four regions Russia unilaterally claimed as its own in 2022, in what Kyiv considers an illegal land grab.
Russia's human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, said 86 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 had been asleep inside the hostel belonging to Luhansk Pedagogical University's Starobilsk school when Ukrainian drones attacked during the night.
Earlier this month, Russia and Ukraine observed a 3-day US-backed ceasefire for Russia's V-Day; however, after that Russia unleashed several consecutive days of heavy aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities, especially the capital.
Last week, Ukraine 'answered' with a large-scale, long range drone attack on the Moscow area. Currently, these tit-for-tack strikes are ramping up, with increasingly deadly consequences for innocent bystanders on both sides.