Ukraine cafe blast: Woman injured after loud explosions leave building blazing in Kharkiv

A large fire has broken out after two loud explosions went off at a cafe in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The blasts reportedly happened at the New Khata cafe with photos emerging on social media showing the cafe being engulfed with flames.

One woman has been taken to hospital with burns to her hands and face.

It is believed the explosions were caused by a gas cylinder although it remains unclear.

The blast reportedly happened at 5:26pm local time at the cafe, located in Shevchenko park.

Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine and is situated close to the Russian border. The majority of Kharkiv's 1.5 million residents are Russian speakers.

The city has been relatively free of violence since fighting erupted in Eastern Ukraine. Few separatist clashes have spilled over from the troubled cities of Donetsk and Luhansk.