Stanytsia Luhanska kindergarten bombing

The Stanytsia Luhanska kindergarten bombing was an event directly preceding the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] It was shelling of a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska on 17 February 2022 which injured three people, and left half the town without electricity.[1] It was performed by separatists shortly before the invasion.[2]

Stanytsia Luhanska kindergarten bombing
Part of the Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date17 February 2022
Location
Stanytsia Luhanska
Belligerents
 Ukraine

Russian backed separatists

Casualties and losses
3 wounded

Overview

On 17 February 2022, a mortar shell landed in a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine. The Luhansk People's Republic (Sergey Kozlov) accused Ukraine of using mortars, grenade launchers, rocketeers or/and a machine gun along its contact line, possibly near Stanytsia Luhanska.[8] Ukrainian sources claimed LPR and Russian positions fired from somewhere near Mykolaivka or Luhansk City towards Stanytsia Luhanska.[6][9][10] This was during the prelude before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11]

On February 26, the settlement was occupied by Russian Ground Forces as part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[12]

Reactions

Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU), stated that "such indiscriminate shelling of civilian infrastructures is totally unacceptable and represents a clear violation of the cease-fire and the Minsk agreements". Borrell also expressed the EU's support for Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and called for unrestricted access for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine in the whole of the territory of Ukraine, including Russian-occupied areas.[13]

The Embassy of the United States in Kyiv called the attack a "heinous Russian violation of the Minsk Agreements" which demonstrated "Russia's disregard for Ukrainian civilians on both sides of the line of contact". The embassy also stated that "The aggressor in Donbas is clear - Russia".[14]

References
  1. "Shelling by Russian-backed separatists raises tensions in east Ukraine". the Guardian. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  2. "Witnesses reel after Ukraine kindergarten shelled by separatists". www.euractiv.com. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  3. "Cluster munitions kill child and two other civilians in Ukrainian Nursery". Amnesty International. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  4. Kramer, Andrew E.; Hopkins, Valerie (18 February 2022). "'A whistling sound, then an explosion': Shelling hits a kindergarten in Ukraine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  5. "What to know about shelling in Ukraine that hit a kindergarten". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  6. Moore, Mark (17 February 2022). "Ukraine, separatists trade blame after kindergarten shelling". Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  7. "Ukraine: Shelling Residential Areas Puts Civilians at Risk". Human Rights Watch. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  8. "Russian-backed Ukraine rebels accuse government forces of mortar attack". Reuters. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  9. Walker, Shaun (19 February 2022). "'God forbid the Cossacks come': fears of war rise in Ukraine's frontline towns". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  10. "Occupiers shell Stanytsia Luhanska, damaging kindergarten. Two civilians injured". www.ukrinform.net. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  11. Kramer, Andrew E.; Hopkins, Valerie (18 February 2022). "'A whistling sound, then an explosion': Shelling hits a kindergarten in Ukraine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. "SPRAVDI". Telegram. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  13. Zorlu, Faruk (18 February 2022). "EU 'strongly' condemns kindergarten attack in eastern Ukraine". Anadolu Agency.
  14. Zubkova, Dasha (18 February 2022). "U.S. Considers Kindergarten Shelling In Stanytsia Luhanska Minsk Agreements Violation By Russia". Ukranews.
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