Featured Image Credit: AP
Topics: Russia, Ukraine, World News
Poppy Bilderbeck
Ukraine's emergency services have reported five deaths as a result of one of the country's military jets being downed.
This morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to cross the border into Ukraine.
While Ukraine has been fighting back, reportedly shooting down planes in the east of the country and temporarily closing airports to try and prevent potential Russian aircraft landings, reports of casualties and a reported downed jet has added to the growing number of deaths.
The country's emergency service has said five people have died as a result of the Ukrainian military jet having been downed, Sky News reports.
The Ukrainian military has also claimed that Russia was trying to access the country's capital of Kyiv.
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The president's office stated that Russian forces are attempting to access the capital by being dropped in by air.
The five reported deaths follows news of three Russian military helicopters having reportedly been downed by Ukraine, according to Ukraine's internal ministry.
Ukraine's military previously claimed that its air defence downed five Russian planes and one helicopter in the eastern Luhansk region, and separately shot down a Russian plane in eastern Ukraine.
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However, Russia's defence ministry denied reports that one of its aircraft had been shot down and Sky News correspondent Stuart Ramsay reflected that for Ukraine to have shot down so many of Russia's planes was 'possible but unlikely'.
Alongside the air attacks, a second wave of missile attacks has been taking place, resulting in explosions having been heard in Kyiv.
The attack on Odessa is reported as having resulted in at least 18 casualties.
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In response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that 'our worst fears have now come true'.
He added: 'Our mission is clear: diplomatically, politically, economically and, eventually, militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Putin must end in failure.'
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