Rivne: Shahed hits university — 30 injured, building gutted

Strike on an educational building

At about 10:30 on 13 October a Russian jet-powered Shahed-type drone hit a university building in central Rivne. According to Suspilne, a fire covered roughly 80 m² on the second floor: walls and roof were destroyed, and classrooms burned out from the inside. Rivne Oblast Military Administration head Oleksandr Koval called it a terrorist attack on a civilian site.

Education Minister Andrii Butenko said the music faculty building was almost completely gutted and neighbouring classrooms had windows blown out. The Kyiv Independent and police initially reported 20–25 injured; two were in critical condition and taken into surgery.

Students in shelters, staff among the wounded

According to the university and the State Emergency Service, students were in shelters on the grounds at the time of the strike and were safe. Casualties included administrative staff. SES Rivne deputy chief Ihor Kukharchuk said rescuers first searched for and evacuated people; only after full debris clearance could they confirm no one remained under the rubble.

In the evening Rivne SES said clearance of debris and collapse aftermath was complete. Thirty people were known to be injured. Sixty-four rescuers and 13 vehicles worked at the site; SES psychologists assisted those who needed help.

Impact on the city

Besides the campus building, neighbouring apartment blocks were damaged. Residents told Suspilne of blown-out windows, torn-down light fixtures and a powerful blast wave. Deputy mayor Artem Hanushchak reported more than 20 hotline calls and 64 damaged windows plus interior and entrance doors; the city had already ordered window replacements.

Koval said the oblast would handle repairs at the educational site and the city council the surrounding area; the university switched to distance learning. Police and the SBU opened a war-crimes investigation.

Why it matters

A daytime strike on a university in a regional centre far from the front line shows that jet-powered drones can reach the deep rear and target civilian education. Thirty injured and a destroyed teaching building are a warning both for western air defences and for partners promising more systems against exactly these attacks.