The Russian military is continuing its attacks across Ukraine, while Russian President Vladimir Putin says it will deal an "irreparable, very serious blow" to Ukraine.

Russian forces struck a residential area of Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv in the east with missiles on Tuesday night. The region's governor said a hospital and some other buildings were destroyed, and 17 people were injured, with two women seriously.

Ukraine's air force said on Wednesday that the Russian military bombarded many parts of the country, using Iranian-made suicide drones.

Putin claimed at a meeting with representatives from municipalities on Tuesday that Ukraine has been rejecting ceasefire talks.

He said that during the negotiation process, it is impossible to try to force Russia to abandon the gains it has achieved for the last one-and-a-half years. He added Ukraine and the West also understand that.

Putin said it is obvious that not only has Ukraine's counteroffensive failed but also the initiative is completely in the hands of Russian forces.

A US think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, said in its assessment on Tuesday that Russia is not interested in negotiating with Ukraine in good faith, and its objectives, which are tantamount to full Ukrainian and Western surrender, remain unchanged.