Russian missiles hit a high-rise building and a recreation center in Ukraine's Odesa region, killing at least 19 people and wounding 38, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday.

"The death toll is 19 people," wrote Sergiy Kruk, head of the Ukrainian emergency services, on Facebook. Thirty-eight people were wounded, including six children, he added.

The Kremlin denied targeting civilians: "I would like to remind you of the president's words that the Russian Armed Forces do not work with civilian targets," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, a senior official at the Ukrainian presidency, earlier put the death toll at 18, including two children.