"The rescue operation in Kharkiv continues. A Russian air strike. An ordinary residential building, a multi-story building, was damaged. There is a fire and rubble between the 9th and 12th floors," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messenger app.

He posted photos of smoke and fire billowing out of the windows of a multi-story building. All windows had been blown out.

Kharkiv governor Oleh Syniehubov said civilian infrastructure was also damaged.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second biggest city, is located near the Russian border and is constantly under attack from Russian bombs, missiles and drones.

"And the world must help defend Ukraine from Russian military aircraft, from dozens of guided bombs that take the lives of Ukrainians every day. This terror can be stopped," Zelenskyy said.

A rescue operation is underway in Kharkiv following a Russian strike with aerial bombs. An ordinary residential high-rise building has been damaged. There is a fire and debris between the 9th and 12th floors. So far, nearly 30 people have been reported injured, including… pic.twitter.com/3ngKkfcb1U

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 15, 2024

Kyiv has said it needs to be allowed to use more powerful Western-supplied weapons to inflict greater damage inside Russia and impair Moscow's ability to attack.

Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians despite having killed thousands of them since it invaded Ukraine in 2022.