At least seven people have been injured and a fire has erupted at a shopping centre after a series of Ukrainian strikes in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, a Russian official in the region has claimed.

Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-installed governor of the city, claimed the strikes sparked a fire of more than 10,000 square metres at the “Galaktika” shopping centre.

Seven civilians, including a teenager, were wounded, he said, with no deaths reported.

Sky News cannot independently verify the governor’s claims. A video posted online shows smoke and flames rising from a shopping centre, purportedly in Donetsk.

Alleged strikes come as Russia captures Donetsk territory

Mr Pushilin’s claim of Ukrainian attacks comes as Russian forces advance and capture more territory in Ukrainian-controlled areas of the Donetsk region.

Earlier, the Russian defence ministry claimed its forces had taken control of the village of Serhiivka, while authorities ordered the rapid evacuation of the nearby city of Pokrovsk (see 11.16am post).

Pokrovsk, which has been in Moscow’s sights for several months, is one of Ukraine’s main defensive strongholds and a key logistics hub in the Donetsk region. 

Its capture would compromise Ukraine’s defensive abilities and supply routes.