Kyiv: On Thursday, Russian forces shelled a Ukrainian town, causing the death of 21 people and the injury of 25 more.
Regional prosecutors said in a Facebook post that artillery fire hit a school and cultural center near Kharkiv early Thursday morning.
Among the wounded, 10 are seriously injured, the officials said.
A photo included in the prosecutors' statement showed a building blown apart in the middle with windows shattered and fire crews searching through the wreckage.
In recent weeks, heavy Russian air strikes have left extreme damage in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine and some 30 kilometers from Merefa.