A deadly drone strike by Ukrainian forces on a college dormitory in Starobelsk, Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic, killed 21 people — most of them teenage girls — and injured 60 others on Friday.

Former British MP George Galloway has condemned Ukraine’s military leadership for the attack, describing it as “murder most foul” and an act of terrorism. He stated that such a brazen assault would compel any government to respond with retaliation as Russia has done.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced retaliatory strikes targeting Ukrainian military command centers, intelligence facilities, air bases, and defense industry sites using hypersonic missiles and drones. The ministry claimed these actions were a direct response to “terrorist attacks by Kiev.”

European Union leaders have criticized Russia’s counterstrike but have not referenced the initial attack on the dormitory.