Russian and Ukrainian forces exchange attacks on civilian targets

On May 24, 2025, two major attacks occurred in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both targeting civilian facilities and resulting in significant casualties.

Russian forces conducted a large-scale missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the early morning hours. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, all city districts were hit during the assault. The attacks caused damage at more than 40 locations, including residential buildings, warehouses, and a logistics center. The death toll rose throughout the day to two people, while at least 56 individuals were injured. Thirteen of the wounded required hospitalization, with three in critical condition.

Simultaneously, Russian authorities reported a Ukrainian attack on a student dormitory in Starobelsk in the Russian-controlled Lugansk People's Republic. According to Russian sources, Ukrainian drones struck a building of the Starobelsk Professional College, which is part of the Lugansk State Pedagogical University. At the time of the attack, 86 students and one employee were in the building.

Rescue operations in Starobelsk continued throughout the night. The death toll rose continuously as more bodies were recovered from the rubble. Initially, 10 deaths were reported, later increasing to 12, then 16, 18, and finally 21 fatalities. Additionally, 48 people were injured. The Russian Emergency Ministry declared the recovery operations complete after all victims had been pulled from the debris.

In response to the Starobelsk attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry invited international journalists to visit the site. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that over 50 reporters from various countries had accepted the invitation. She simultaneously launched sharp criticism against Western media outlets, accusing them of denying or ignoring the incident.

The criticism was particularly pointed toward the BBC and CNN. Zakharova announced that the BBC had officially declined to visit the site, while CNN had not responded to the invitation at all - which she sarcastically described as being "on vacation." She further claimed that Japan had prohibited its journalists from reporting on the events in Starobelsk.

The contrasting coverage of these events reflects deep divisions in the international media landscape. While Russian and Russia-aligned media extensively report on the Starobelsk attack and accuse Western media of bias, Western and Ukrainian sources focus primarily on the Russian attack on Kyiv.

The attacks on civilian facilities, particularly educational institutions and residential areas, highlight the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict. Both sides accuse each other of deliberately targeting civilian objectives, which could constitute war crimes under international law.

The May 24 events also demonstrate how difficult it has become to obtain independent and verified information in this conflict. The Russian authorities' invitation to international journalists can be seen as an attempt to support their own narrative of events, while Western media's refusal reflects the deep tensions and mistrust between the conflicting parties.

The incident underscores the broader challenges facing international journalism in conflict zones, particularly when access is controlled by one of the warring parties. The Russian government's criticism of Western media outlets for declining to visit the site raises questions about press freedom, safety concerns, and the complexities of reporting in disputed territories.

These latest attacks continue a pattern of strikes on civilian infrastructure that has characterized the conflict since its escalation. Both the attack on Kyiv's residential areas and the reported strike on the educational facility in Starobelsk represent the kind of civilian casualties that have drawn international condemnation throughout the conflict.