The eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was hit with 53 artillery and rocket launches over the past 24 hours as Russian forces continue to head toward eastern Ukraine, according to local officials, seen in this drone footage shot and acquired exclusively on Wednesday (April 13).

"Our Armed Forces are constantly fighting to prevent the enemy from passing to Donetsk and Luhansk regions," head of the Kharkiv regional state administration Oleg Synegubov said on Telegram.

"Russians continue to terrorize civilians," he added. "Unfortunately, during the past 24 hours, 22 civilians, including three children, were injured in the shelling of the region. Seven people died."

Kharkiv, about 30 miles from mainland Russia, is considered an important thoroughfare and has been one of the main targets of Russian forces since the invasion began on February 24.

The Russian troops are believed to be transporting a mix of personnel and armored vehicles to support what western officials have described to media as a "major offensive" now being directed in eastern Ukraine, with reports of an additional 60,000 troops incoming.

Drone footage shot and acquired exclusively on Wednesday (April 13) shows Kharkiv, Ukraine in near-total ruins after weeks and weeks of fighting caused by the invasion of northern neighbor Russia targeted the eastern city.

Blown-out buildings, demolished homes, and strong damage from explosions are seen patterned throughout the once-bustling city located in the eastern portion of the country.