In Ukraine, a picturesque estate nicknamed 'Harry Potter Castle' has been destroyed by a Russian missile strike that also killed four people. CNN reported. The rocket attack on the southern Ukrainian city also injured thirty others, including two children and a pregnant woman. Nearly two dozen residential buildings and infrastructure facilities were also damaged by the strike, Ukrainian authorities said.
Video and photos of the attack released by the Ukrainian Attorney General's office showed flames engulfing the conical towers and roof of an educational institution known locally as “Harry Potter Castle” because of its resemblance to a Scottish noble pile. Ukrainian authorities suspect that Russia used an Iskander ballistic missile and cluster munitions to carry out the attack.
“This is an indiscriminate weapon, the use of which could lead to significant civilian casualties. Metal fragments and rocket debris were recovered within a 1.5 km radius of the attack site. The investigation has reason to believe that officers of the Russian Armed Forces decided to use this. specific weapon on purpose to kill as many Ukrainian civilians as possible,” the tweet said.
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“The investigation is ongoing. We will find and punish those who give criminal orders to shell peaceful Ukrainian cities,” the Ukrainian official added.
Russia, on the other hand, said its air defenses in Crimea managed to intercept a major missile and drone attack by Ukraine. According to CNNKremlin appointee Sergei Aksyonov, the top civilian official in occupied Crimea, warned people not to approach possible unexploded ordinances, while one of his officials urged people not to film videos of Russian air defenses in action or post. Russian military bloggers said the targets were airfields.
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Russian officials also said the attack was carried out mainly using six US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), all of which were successfully shot down by air defenses.
Meanwhile, the attack came after NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg condemned the slow delivery of aid from Ukraine's allies in the West, saying “severe delays” allowed the Russians to advance to the war front during the 25-month invasion.