At least eight people have reportedly been killed and 17 injured in Ukraine as both sides accuse the other of targeting residential areas.

Russia shelled a village in Kherson area, killing three people and injuring two, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

He claimed they were murdered when a shell landed outside a business in Zelenivka.

Ukrainian bombardment in seized Donetsk killed five people and injured 15, according to the city’s Russian-backed mayor.

Alexei Kulemzin claimed that Ukrainian forces fired 163 shells and 20 rockets at the city on Wednesday alone, injuring a 13-year-old child.

In addition to the reports of civilian casualties, he stated that shells had impacted private dwellings and apartment buildings, causing damage to infrastructure. Another Russian-backed official confirmed the death toll but stated that 23 people were injured.

The city in eastern Ukraine has been under pro-Russian rebel control since 2014, and the surrounding Donetsk region was one of four unlawfully annexed by Russia last year.

The BBC was unable to independently verify either country’s assertions.

Following the Zelenivka incident, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stated the boy’s name was Vsevolod and that he would have turned six in July.

“It was another artillery attack by terrorists, people were just on the street near an ordinary store,” he said in a televised speech, urging the international community to increase pressure on Russia over its bombing of civilian areas.

Mr Prokudin stated that the little boy was promptly brought to the hospital, however he died before arriving for treatment. According to him, a 16-year-old boy is currently undergoing surgery for his injuries, and an adult man was also injured.