At least two people have been killed after a crowded DIY store in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was hit by Russian strikes, regional officials say.

Two guided bombs hit the hypermarket, wounding many more and triggering a huge blaze that fire crews were battling to contain, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said via the Telegram messaging app.

Up to 200 people could have been in the store, which is in a residential area, at the time of the strikes, which killed at least two people and left at least 24 injured, according to officials.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said many more people were unaccounted for.

“The attack targeted the shopping centre, where there were many people – this is clearly terrorism,” he said.

Video footage showed huge clouds of dark smoke rising into the sky from the site with firefighters’ vehicles and rescuers heading to the scene, while witnesses described panicked scenes at the shopping centre.

“I was at my workplace,” said Dmytro Syrotenko, who had a large gash to his face.

“I heard the first hit and … with my colleague, we fell to the ground. There was the second hit and we were covered with debris. Then we started to crawl to the higher ground.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as a “brutal attack” and issued a fresh plea for more air defence to be able to protect the city of about 1.3 million people.

“This is a task that must be accomplished and can only be accomplished together with the world,” he said.

Read more from Sky News:
British man missing and feared dead on Everest
Boy arrested after woman stabbed to death on beach

Kharkiv, which is Ukraine’s second-largest city around 18 miles (30 km) from the Russian border, has been the target of many weeks of Russian attacks.

Mr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Friday that Ukrainian forces have secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops entered the north-eastern Kharkiv region earlier this month.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

But his comments appeared to be at odds with those made by Russian officials.

Viktor Vodolatsky, a member of Russia’s lower house of parliament, said Russian forces now controlled more than half of the town of Vovchansk, three miles inside the border, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

Related posts:

‘We have to act fast’: Calm Merkel promises ‘rapid recovery’ after Germany devastated by floods Stranded family rescued from stuck campervan after four days in Australian desert Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich trying to find ‘peaceful resolution’ to Ukraine invasion, spokesman says ‘No regrets and I’d do it again’: Ukrainian sailor tries to sink Russian boss’s £5m yacht NASA astronaut’s return aboard Russian capsule shows war on Earth hasn’t soured relations in space Russian attacks on Ukraine intensify despite pledge from Moscow to pull back troops Fourteen children injured and their teacher killed in Berlin car crash At least 15 killed in Russian strike on block of flats Blistering heat scorches Europe as wildfire injures 29 in Portugal At least 129 dead due to torrential rainfall in Rwanda What missiles do Iran and Israel have and how might they be used? Who is Slovak PM Robert Fico?