Russian attack on Odesa: shelling damages film studio and zoo
- Svitlana Ivanchenko
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13:01, 10 June, 2025
On the night of 10 June, Russian troops attacked Odesa, damaging the Odesa Film Studio and the zoo.
According to the Minister of Culture of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, the studio's pavilions, warehouses, scenery, and vehicles were destroyed. The scenery for the film «Dovzhenko», a national project dedicated to one of Ukraine's most prominent filmmakers, was completely destroyed.
«The aggressor continues to kill Odesa, its people and cultural heritage. At night, the Odesa Film Studio, the place where Ukrainian cinema was created, was damaged. Russia is not only at war with our cities, it is waging war against our culture, memory, and future,» said Mykola Tochytskyi.
Consequences of the Russian attack on the Odesa Film Studio. Photo: Mykola TochytskyiThe Odesa Zoo was also attacked. According to director Ihor Biliakov, a drone hit the zoo's technical area at night. Materials for animal care, including wood for sawdust, were stored there. The hayloft building was severely damaged.
«It is very good that it is in the technical area and not in the animal keeping area. We collect branches there to make sawdust for the animals. And that's where it hit, and the hayloft building was quite seriously damaged, fortunately, it was empty and did not catch fire,» said Ihor Biliakov.
The aftermath of the Russian attack on the Odesa Zoo. Photo: Ihor Biliakov
The aftermath of the Russian attack on the Odesa Zoo. Photo: Ihor BiliakovIt is noted that a domestic sheep was probably killed by the blast wave. Other animals and workers were not injured.
«The rest of our animals were not injured, people were not injured. We immediately started checking the animals. The zebras were frightened, it was obvious that they were scared because they are very nervous animals, they were frightened by the explosion, but they soon calmed down,» said the zoo director.
On the night of 10 June, Russian drones struck Odesa, killing two people and injuring nine others.
Earlier it was reported that during a night attack on Odesa region on 16 May, a Russian drone hit the house of Odesa Zoo director Ihor Biliakov.