Magical Icon in Ruins: Russian attack in Ukraine destroys castle inspired by the world of Harry Potter
The airstrike that originated in Moscow devastated a building widely known as "Harry Potter's Castle." The Ukrainian building of the Odessa Academy of Law earned its nickname due to its striking resemblance to the iconic castle depicted in the franchise's films.
OThe building of an educational institution, known as 'Harry Potter Castle', catches fire after a Russian missile attack in Odessa, Ukraine - Photo Reproduction/Reuters/Sergey Smolentsev
Five people lost their lives and 32 others were injured in an attack carried out by Russian missiles against residential buildings and civil infrastructure in the port city of Odessa, south of Ukraine, this Monday (29), as reported by regional governor OlehGoalkeeper. The governor shared via Telegram that, in addition to the fatal victims of the attack, a man died due to a stroke related to the event. Kiper reported that eight of the injured were in serious condition, including a 4-year-old child. Among the injured were also another child and a pregnant woman.
Among the targets of this attack was the notable Gothic-style building popularly known as "Harry Potter's Castle", which was seen on fire. The building's name derives from its striking resemblance to Hogwarts Castle, immortalized in the films. This building is an integral part of the Odessa Law Academy.
Russian Attack
The Russian onslaught coincides with Ukraine waiting for military supplies promised by the United States and Europe. Deprived of resources, Ukrainian troops have been fighting an uphill battle against Russian advances, recently being forced to retreat from three villages in the East. On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the capture of the village of Semenivka by his forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that new supplies from the West have begun to arrive, but slowly.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), stated that the Atlantic Alliance countries did not fulfill their promises to Ukraine on time, which favored Russia on the front line. During a meeting in Kiev with Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelenskiy, the NATO Secretary General highlighted that the serious delays in support resulted in serious battlefield consequences for Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have warned of the build-up of Russian forces aimed at a major summer offensive, despite incremental gains by Russian troops so far.
Stoltenberg also emphasized that ammunition shortages allowed the Russian advance along the front line. Furthermore, the lack of air defense contributed to the increased number of Russian missiles reaching their targets, while the absence of deep strike capabilities facilitated the concentration of Russian forces.Zelenskiy noted that new Western supplies had begun to arrive, albeit slowly, and highlighted the need to speed up this process.
The Name of Harry Potter's Castle
Harry Potter Castle in Ukraine on fire after Russian missile attack - Photo Reproduction/Reuters/AFP
The building damaged by the bombing is part of the Odessa Law Academy and It has no relation to the wizard saga, nor was it used in the filming of the film series. The building is nicknamed 'Harry Potter's castle' due to its similarity to the architecture of the iconic Hogwarts castle, the famous wizarding school from the book series. Since its founding in 1847, the majestic Gothic-style building has served as home to the renowned law school and is one of the main research and teaching centers in Ukraine. This long history of educational excellence has created a strong bond between the population of Odessa and the institution, to the point of affectionately calling it so unique.
In an interview with the international agency Reuters, a student, identified only as Maria, revealed that the fire in the historic building started after a Russian missile was intercepted. "The doors opened and the windows shook. That's when I saw it," explained the student, pointing to the burning building.
Among those injured was judge and former Ukrainian parliamentarian Serhiy Kivalov, who resided in Harry Potter Castle as he was the president of the university, a role similar to that of rector. Furthermore, the bombing also caused serious injuries to a four-year-old child and a pregnant woman, as reported by the region's governor, OlehGoalkeeper.
