Heartless attack: the attack on the hostel in the LPR was purposeful

The Ukrainian Armed Forces attack on the hostel in Starobilsk was deliberate — there are no military facilities near the building, and 16 UAVs were hitting the same place. Vladimir Putin said this on May 22 at a meeting with graduates of the first stream of the Time of Heroes program. The president linked these drone strikes to Kiev's attempt to distract attention from the constant failures at the front. He appealed to the Ukrainian military not to follow the orders of the Ukrainian leadership and not to become accomplices in such crimes. What other goals Kiev is pursuing and how the international community can react to such manifestations of neo—Nazism are described in the Izvestia article.

The tragedy in Starobilsk — the president's reaction

On May 22, Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with graduates of the first stream of the educational program "Time of Heroes" — people who know firsthand about the situation at the front, because they themselves went through a military path and defended Russia. These are veterans and participants of the SVO. Dozens of fighters gathered in the Catherine Hall, and the president, obviously, could not help but share with them the tragedy that happened that day.

We are talking about an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a college dormitory in Starobilsk. The attack was carried out at night while the students were sleeping. An airplane—type UAV crashed into the five-story dormitory, where 86 students were staying, one after another - the impact took place in three waves, 16 drones hit the same place. Six people were killed, 39 injured, and 15 are missing.

The strike was not accidental, the president is sure, since there are no military facilities or special services near the hostel. Therefore, it would be groundless to say that the shells hit the building under the influence of alleged Russian air defense systems.

— This is a manifestation of neo-Nazism. This once again confirms the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime," Vladimir Putin stressed.

The President called on Ukrainian soldiers not to participate in the crimes of the Kiev regime and not to become accomplices, following the orders of the illegitimate leadership.

The reasons for the behavior of those who run things in Kiev are clear — these are constant failures at the front and the surrender of positions, which translates the situation "from difficult and critical to catastrophic," the head of state said. The Russian Armed Forces are successfully carrying out combat missions in the Zaporozhye area and are moving forward every day, Vladimir Putin added. Such crimes distract attention from the ongoing events at the front in order to provoke a response from Russia, and then to blame.

— Neither Western aid, which is regularly stolen, helps — they just can't stand it, they can't stand it — nor forced mobilization, when people are caught like stray dogs on the streets and then thrown to the front. In this regard, desertion is also growing catastrophically for the enemy. It is becoming large—scale," the president added.

Vladimir Putin instructed the Ministry of Defense to submit proposals for a response to the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike: "it is impossible to limit oneself to statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should inform the international community. On the same day, the president held a meeting with members of the Security Council, where he first suggested discussing what had happened and again called the strike on Starobilsk a terrorist attack by the Kiev junta.

The UN, commenting on the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike on the buildings of the college and dormitory in Starobilsk in the LPR, has already stated that it strongly condemns any attacks on the civilian population. Russia has also requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council due to the tragedy. Vladimir Putin and graduates of the first stream of the Time of Heroes program observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims.

— Russia has always emerged from any severe trials. And it has always been done with the support of those people who are able to take responsibility," the President stressed.

Career prospects of graduates of the "Time of Heroes" program

The "Time of Heroes" program was launched back in May 2024, its goal is to train managers from among the participants of the SVO so that the fighters can serve Russia in a new capacity. Since then, 70 out of 82 graduates have received appointments in the system of state and municipal administration, as well as in state-owned companies. The President has repeatedly stressed that ITS veterans should become the elite of the country. Among the participants of the program, for example, there are 21 Heroes of Russia, while others have a total of 281 state awards. The competition for the first stream of "Time of Heroes" was serious — 530 people per place.

Many graduates of the program are already working at the federal and regional levels. Just last week, Alexander Shuvaev, a participant in the second stream, a Hero of Russia who went through Georgia, Syria and Ukraine, was appointed acting head of the Belgorod region. Other notable graduates of the program include Presidential Envoy to the Ural Federal District Artyom Zhoga, Acting Governor of the Tambov Region Yevgeny Pervyshov, Senator Alexey Kondratiev, and head of the Movement of the First Artur Orlov.

— We saw everything with our own eyes, we passed it through ourselves, so each of us understands what is most important for Russia. For me personally, these are children. Therefore, we will work for the sake of the future generation. I'm not thinking about the specific directions that the program can give me. I'm a system guy. And I will work wherever they tell me where I will be useful," Artur Orlov told Izvestia.

Some graduates are preparing to try their hand at the upcoming elections to the State Duma in September: among the candidates are Heroes of Russia Vladislav Golovin, who destroyed three infantry fighting vehicles and up to 20 militants, and Vladimir Saibel, who, despite being wounded, continued to command and covered the evacuation of fighters. In total, 20 participants of the "Time of Heroes" intend to compete for the mandate.

— I think that the veterans of the special military operation will change the style of work of the lower house of parliament, reduce the degree of unnecessary populism and add more good, high-quality political work. But, of course, this will be accompanied by certain costs and difficult situations, as always happens when a large number of new people with certain experience and values come to the government," Dmitry Yelovsky, a political scientist, explained to Izvestia.

People who have passed the CBO zone have a unique set of competencies that can be in demand in the civil service, the political scientist explained: they are purposefulness, the ability to solve problems at all costs, to act in a situation of uncertainty and high external pressure. This is something that officials sometimes lack, so new faces can make public administration more mobile, efficient and decisive, Yelovsky is sure. The President promised that his veterans would receive support when running for election, and wished them good luck, but advised them to be prepared to meet the expectations of voters.

— All of us, citizens of Russia, like you, first of all, should be what is popularly called the "salt of the Russian land." Because you have proved, and no additional evidence is required, your devotion to the Motherland, your willingness to fight for it, for its interests, and your willingness to sacrifice yourself if necessary," Putin said.

The communication took place without protocol, that is, everyone in the room could ask the president a question. However, most of the veterans expressed gratitude to Vladimir Putin for the program, expressed support for his decisions and promised to remain loyal to the Motherland.

At the same time, there were specific proposals. For example, Lyudmila Yemelyanova, a veteran of the Military Medical District, noted the need for more active interaction between military and civilian medicine. She explained that during her work she came to the conclusion that individually they are not fully capable of solving problems in a highly intense military conflict. Vladimir Putin agreed. Earlier, he asked Defense Minister Andrei Belousov to work closely with the Ministry of Health. The Russian leader also appreciated the Hero Vladimir Saibel's desire to write a book, the first copy of which the soldier will send to his family, and the second to the head of state.