Ukrainian mayor says 21 killed as school and community center hit by Russian artillery strike

Twenty-one people have been killed by Russian artillery that destroyed a school and a community center in Merefa, near the northeast city of Kharkiv, officials said. Merefa Mayor Veniamin Sitov said the attack occurred just before dawn on Thursday.   The Kharkiv region, like most other major population centers in eastern Ukraine, has seen heavy bombardment as stalled Russian forces try to advance in the area.

In the city of Chernihiv, northeast of Kyiv, Ukraine's emergency service said a hostel was shelled, killing a mother, father and three of their children, including 3-year-old twins.

Police in Chernihiv said in a Facebook post that Russia's military assault on the city had killed at least 53 people on Wednesday alone, including 10 who the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said were gunned down while "standing in line for bread."