Russia launched a missile strike on Kyiv. Picture used for illustrative purposes only.

Missile attacks on Tuesday on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the eastern city of Kharkiv wounded several people, including children, officials said.

"According to preliminary data, children received shrapnel injuries... and one woman was also injured," in Kharkiv, where a residential building was partially destroyed, said Sergiy Bolvinov, head of the Kharkiv region's investigative department. Authorities in Kyiv meanwhile said at least two people were injured in shelling.

According to another report Russia launched a missile strike on Kyiv and Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.

"Explosions in the city! Details later. Don't leave the shelters!" Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app.

Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, and the military administration of the region surrounding the capital said on their Telegram channels that air defence systems were engaged in repelling Russia's missile attack.

"Strong explosions, our house ... was shaking," lawmaker Iryna Geraschenko said on her Telegram .

Reuters witnesses reported hearing several waves of explosions in Kyiv and around it.

Popko said several cars caught fire in the attack in Kyiv's Sviatoshyn district, west of the capital's centre.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, also writing on Telegram, said that Russia also targeted his city.

"They're hitting Kharkiv again - there have already been several explosions," he said.

Agencies