Russia has struck a high-rise apartment block in the north-east Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, killing at least three people and injuring 22 more, say local officials. The attack on the residential building was carried out using guided glide bombs, the city's mayor said.

Officials say Ukrainian troops engaged in hand-to-hand combat as they drove Russian forces out of a huge processing plant in the town of Vovchansk in Ukraine’s northeast that had been occupied for four months.

The Russian Il-38 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft flew north of Rebun Island three times from 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., violating Japanese airspace with each encroachment lasting for 30 seconds to one minute, the defense ministry in Japan reported.

Japan's defense minister said the use of flares was a legitimate response to airspace violation and "we plan to use it without hesitation."