• Putin blames Ukraine for a drone attack on a student dormitory, killing six and injuring many.
• 15 individuals remain unaccounted for following the strike in Starobilsk, Luhansk region.
• Ukraine denies targeting civilians and claims it attacked a military command unit.
• Kremlin calls the incident a "monstrous crime" and demands global condemnation.
• Putin has ordered Russian military options for retaliation against Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to prepare retaliation plans following an alleged drone strike by Ukraine on a student dormitory in Starobilsk, Luhansk, which he stated killed six people and injured many others, with 15 still unaccounted for. Putin emphasized that the attack, carried out in three waves by 16 drones, specifically targeted a civilian location without any military facilities nearby, contradicting claims made by the Ukrainian military regarding the nature of their operations, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, BBC, and Channel News Asia.

Putin's accusation draws a specific response from Ukraine, which stated it was targeting a command unit of Russia's elite Rubicon drone military in the region and claimed it adhered to international humanitarian law. They continually contest Russia's assertions about the factual circumstances surrounding the strike, which has led to conflicting narratives, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Local officials reported that 86 teenagers were present in the dormitory at the time of the attack, and initial rescue efforts revealed a collapsed building, which has raised fears about the condition of those trapped inside. Maria Lvova-Belova, the presidential commissioner for children's rights in Russia, indicated that up to 18 children could still be missing, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the attack as a "monstrous crime," reiterating the call for accountability and stressing the attack's implications on educational institutions populated by young people. The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the international community to categorically condemn the actions of Ukraine and emphasize the character of the incident as a terrorist attack, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

Moscow has requested the U.N. Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the incident, highlighting the urgent nature of the situation. Ukraine, while facing criticism, maintains that its military operations are lawful and aimed strictly at military operations, further escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict, as reported by BBC and Channel News Asia.