Ukraine shoots down Russian aircraft: Kyiv

Military says it downed 3 Russian SU-30, 2 SU-25 fighter jets, 2 IL-76 aircraft
Ukraine shoots down Russian aircraft: Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine

Ukraine shot down five Russian fighter jets, two aircraft and 11 helicopters, Ukrainian officials said Saturday.

Three SU-30 and two SU-25 Russian fighter jets, 11 helicopters and two Il-76 aircraft were shot down during the last day, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry.

Russia's attacks on Ukraine entered a third day Saturday, with the latest reports indicating that Russian troops were heading toward the capital, Kyiv, from several directions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military intervention Thursday, days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine.

He claimed that Moscow had no plan to occupy the neighboring country, but wanted to "demilitarize" and "denazify" Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to install a puppet government and said Ukrainians will defend their country against Russian aggression.