A Russian guided bomb struck a five-storey apartment block in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, late on Wednesday (October 2), igniting fires and injuring at least 12 people, according to local officials.

Kharkiv's regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said those injured included a three-year-old child after a bomb struck an area between the third and fourth floors of a building, situated in the city's Saltivka district.

An elderly woman was also injured during the strike and was treated by medics on the scene. Cars were ablaze outside the damaged block and firefighters were making their way through smoke and rubble to gain access to the building.

Located 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, Kharkiv has been a frequent target of Russian forces throughout the war that has lasted two and a half years.

Russia denies targeting civilians but has regularly struck towns and cities behind the front line. - report from Reuters