A total of 56 people have been killed after Russian troops allegedly opened fire on a home for the elderly in the eastern city of Kreminna in Luhansk region, said Serhiy Haidai, an official from the region on Sunday.

"On March 11, Russian occupiers fired from a tank at a nursing home in Kreminna," he said in a Telegram post. "Cynically and deliberately. They just adjusted the tank, put it in front of the house and started firing."

Another 15 survivors were abducted and taken to another place, he added.

Russia has not responded to the claim.