Deaths are mounting in residential areas of Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region due to relentless shelling by Russian troops.

A series of intense missile attacks started Wednesday. The governor of the region said on social media that 17 people including children have died, and 42 have been injured.

The governor added that a woman was confirmed dead on Friday.

Britain's defense ministry says Kharkiv is now about 15 kilometers from the Russian front lines, and has suffered because it "remains within range of most types of Russian artillery."

The ministry adds that multiple rocket launchers and generally inaccurate weapons have caused widespread devastation.

In southeastern Ukraine, concerns are rising about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Ukraine's defense ministry says Russia may carry out an attack at the facility during a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres has called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the plant.

But Russia has rejected the idea of demilitarization, saying it would make the facility even more vulnerable.

The Russian defense ministry says Ukraine will likely shell the area around the plant during Guterres' visit, and attempt to blame Russia.