ballistic missile

Iran's defence ministry denied reports that the explosion was caused by the improper handling of a shipment of sodium perchlorate, a solid fuel used for ballistic missiles.

Two ballistic missiles struck the city centre mid-morning on Sunday, exploding near the state university and congress centre, leaving bloodied bodies scattered in the streets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the "terrible strike by Russian ballistic missiles" hit an "ordinary city street, ordinary life", adding that without strong pressure, "Russia will continue to drag out this war".

He said it was a "bad deal" because it was not permanent and did not address Iran's ballistic missile programme, amongst other things.

The head of the city's defence administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, said a ballistic missile had landed in the centre of a residential area.