Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will retaliate after Ukrainian drone strikes hit targets in the Luhansk and Kherson regions on May 23, 2026.
The escalation signals a deepening of the conflict as both sides target infrastructure and residential areas in occupied territories. These strikes highlight the increasing vulnerability of Russian-held cities to long-range Ukrainian precision weaponry.
The attacks targeted a student dormitory in Starobilsk, located in the Russian-held Luhansk region, and an apartment building in Henichesk, within the Russian-occupied Kherson region [1]. Reports on the casualties vary significantly. One source said at least 22 people, including a child, died in the attacks [1]. Another report said at least six people died [2].
Putin said that Ukraine has opened a “new page” of crimes and that Russia must respond to protect its citizens and territory [1]. He said that Russia will not tolerate such attacks and will take decisive action [3].
“We will prepare all possible options to retaliate against Ukraine,” Putin said [2].
The Russian leader characterized the strikes as a shift in the nature of the conflict. He said that Ukraine has opened a new page of crimes and that Russia will respond in kind [2]. The strikes occurred during a period of intensified drone warfare, where both nations have increasingly targeted logistics hubs and residential blocks near the front lines.
Russia has previously warned that it would respond to strikes on its territory and occupied regions with increased military force. The targeting of a student dormitory and residential housing adds a civilian dimension to the ongoing strategic exchanges between the two nations.
““We will prepare all possible options to retaliate against Ukraine,” Putin said.”
The disparity in reported casualty numbers—ranging from six to 22 deaths—underscores the difficulty of verifying data in occupied territories. By framing these strikes as a 'new page of crimes,' the Kremlin is likely building a domestic and diplomatic justification for expanding the scope of its retaliatory strikes, potentially targeting deeper into Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
