The terrifying moment a Russian missile hits a sports centre in Kharkiv has been captured on video.
Ukraine‘s second-largest city lies just 18 miles from the border with Russia.
The city of almost 1.5 million has been subjected to intense shelling and bombardment by Vladimir Putin‘s forces since day one of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Last week, a glide bomb struck an apartment block, killing seven people and injuring at least 77 others.
On Sunday, Russia‘s army again targeted Kharkiv, this time attacking a sports centre.
Video of the attack shows the terrifying moment a Russian missile falls from the sky onto the recreational centre.
As it strikes the building, a massive ball of flames explodes skywards in an apocalyptic scene.
At least 44 people were injured, among them seven children – the youngest of whom was a three-year-old baby.
Regional head Oleh Syniehubov accused Moscow of “aiming exclusively at civilian infrastructure” in the city.
He said at least 10 separate Russian strikes had been recorded on the day, including the use of ballistic missiles.
People may be buried under the rubble in some areas and rescue operations are continuing, he added.
“Russia is once again terrorising Kharkiv, striking civilian infrastructure and the city itself,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in the wake of the attacks.
He repeated calls for Western allies to “give Ukraine everything it needs to defend itself”.
Sunday night also saw Russian forces target the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine in another missile onslaught.
A children’s psychological rehabilitation centre in a residential area was hit during the bombardment.
Local authorities said 13 people were injured, including a seven-year-old boy and a thirteen-year-old girl.