Rylsk was hit by a barrage of HIMARS missiles (Image: Social media)
Ukraine launched a devastating missile strike on a town in ‘s Kursk region, just 43 miles from a major nuclear power station.
The attack reportedly involved the use of missiles, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure in Rylsk.
Russian reports claimed that a college, cultural centre and school were all hit during the bombardment.
However, Ukrainian sources suggested that the target of the attack was a military barracks housing officers.
The pro-Kremlin telegram channel MASH said that five people had been killed and 26 injured, including a 13-year-old.
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Video images shot by locals show flames and thick black smoke billowing from buildings and cars.
In further footage, rubble and debris can be seen scattered everywhere inside a building that was close to one of the points of impact.
The attack came shortly after launched a around .
The region’s acting governor, Alexander Khinshtein, said the town was grieving for the victims.
“What happened today is a huge tragedy for all of us,” he write in a post to his Telegram channel. “We grieve together with the families of the victims. No one will be left without support.”
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He added those responsible would receive “well-deserved retribution”.
Rylsk is just 43 miles from the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant – one of biggest in .
Ever since ‘s incursion into Kursk, experts have been worried that the plant could be accidentally hit in a military strike.
Rafael Grossi, the head of the Atomic Energy Agency, visited the plant in August and called on both sides to show restraint.
He said: “I reiterate that the safety and security of nuclear facilities must, under no circumstances, be endangered.”
Following yesterday’s attack, officials at the plant insisted that everything was “operating in normal mode”.