Ukraine launched a devastating missile strike on a town in Russia’s Kursk region, just 43 miles from a major nuclear power station.

The attack reportedly involved the use of HIMARS 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 Russian officers.

The pro-Kremlin telegram channel MASH said that five people had been killed and 26 injured, including a 13-year-old.

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 Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Kyiv and several other regions around Ukraine.

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.”

He added those responsible would receive “well-deserved retribution”.

Rylsk is just 43 miles from the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant – one of biggest in Russia.

Ever since Ukraine’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”.