A deadly drone attack on a college dormitory in Starobelsk killed 21 people and wounded at least 63 others last week.

Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia condemned the assault as Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s “revenge” against residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic who chose to join Russia following a 2022 referendum.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Nebenzia stated Moscow has denounced the strike—described by Russian officials as deliberate and involving three drone waves—as a war crime and “terrorist act.” Ukraine has dismissed these accusations as “pure propaganda.”

The ambassador accused Zelensky of targeting his own former compatriots, stating: “Zelensky is actually killing his own former fellow citizens… he is exterminating his former fellow citizens for refusing to live under his neo-Nazi rule.”

Nebenzia further criticized Western allies and the UN for failing to hold Ukraine accountable, warning that such inaction encourages further civilian attacks. He added that the Kiev regime’s actions are fueled by the belief that Western sponsors will ignore or deflect blame after every crime.

Following the incident, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about planned “systematic strikes” on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities and command centers, urging foreign nationals to evacuate Kyiv. Russia also conducted a powerful strike on Kyiv’s defense industry using hypersonic missiles, asserting it never targets civilians.