KIEV, Ukraine / ANKARA, Turkey

At least 15 people in eastern Ukraine were killed on Thursday as a fire broke out in a nursing home.

The fire broke out at around 3.00 p.m. local time (1300GMT) on the second floor of the Golden Time nursing home in the city of Kharkiv, the country's state emergency service said, adding that eleven people had been rescued and referred to hospitals.

The fire has been brought under control, while its cause has yet to be determined.

President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered the establishment of a commission to investigate the incident.

Prosecutor-General Iryna Venedyktova said the fire may have been caused by careless use of electric heaters and that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement extended the country's "heartfelt condolences" to the "friendly and brotherly" Ukrainian people and government, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

"We have received the news with great sorrow that a fire in a nursing home in Kharkiv, Ukraine has resulted in loss of many lives and injuries," it added.