On Monday, a missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa claimed at least five lives and left 32 injured, including two children, after hitting a distinctive mansion known as the “Harry Potter Castle.” The attack occurred in a seafront park and targeted the distinct building that houses the Odessa Law Academy and serves as the residence of Serhiy Kivalov, the academy’s president and a former lawmaker.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine released footage showing the aftermath of the strike, which caused the building to be engulfed in flames. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported that one of the casualties died later in the hospital, and several others, including a four-year-old girl, remain in serious to extremely serious condition. A day of mourning was declared in Odessa in response to the attack.
Ukraine’s ‘Harry Potter castle’ was damaged in deadly Russian strikes on the city of Odesa. At least five people were killed. pic.twitter.com/8GD2UcwwpS
— DW News (@dwnews) April 30, 2024
The incident drew sharp criticism from local officials, with Odessa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov condemning the attackers in strong terms during a Telegram video. The building was reportedly struck by a missile with cluster munitions, leading to significant damage and a severe blaze that emergency services struggled to control.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation following the strike, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and underscoring the urgent need for continued international support and weapon deliveries to Ukraine to counter daily Russian missile attacks.
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