Ukraine’s “Harry Potter castle” has burned down in flames after a Russian missile attack in Odesa on Monday, Ukrainian authorities said.
At least five people were killed and more than 30 injured in the deadly strike, with videos showing dozens of missiles exploding in the Black Sea port city.
The video footage released by the office of Ukraine’s Prosecutor General shows flames engulfing Odesa’s educational institution known locally as the “Harry Potter castle” due to its resemblance of the castle in the film series.
Ukrainian authorities have said Russia likely used an Iskander ballistic missile and cluster munitions to carry out the attack.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said: “Metal fragments and missile debris were recovered within a 1.5 km (nearly 1 mile) radius from the attack site.”
READ MORE: Ukraine secures vital weapons from NATO ally as Russia ramps up offensive
Russian officials said Ukraine’s alleged attack was carried out primarily by six US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which Moscow said had all been shot down by air defenses.
Ukraine has not yet commented on the alleged strike, and it has not been confirmed by officials.
US President Joe Biden signed into law a $95 billion war aid measure last week that included assistance for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
Biden immediately approved sending Ukraine $1 billion in military assistance – the first installment from about $61 billion allocated for Ukraine.
The package included air defense capabilities, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and other weapons to shore up Ukrainian forces who have seen morale sink as Russian President Vladimir Putin has racked up win after win.
The announcement marked an end to the long, painful battle with Republicans in Congress over urgently needed assistance for Ukraine.
Biden said at the White House to announce the bill signing: “We rose to the moment, we came together, and we got it done. Now we need to move fast, and we are.”
But even with the burst of new weapons and ammunition, it’s unlikely Ukraine will immediately recover after months of setbacks.
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