The Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation said that its forces had shot down five jet fighters, one helicopter and five drones during military operations in Ukraine.
Russian troops also reportedly destroyed 18 tanks and armoured vehicles, seven rocket launchers and 41 military vehicles, the Defence Ministry said in a statement .
In a related context, the ministry said that it had been agreed with Ukrainian forces to provide joint protection for the Chernobyl nuclear plant, and that the level of radiation in the Chernobyl reactor area was within normal parameters.
Ukrainian President Vladimyor Zelensky said that at least 137 Ukrainians were killed on Thursday on the first day of the Russian operation, with 316 others having been wounded in the fighting.
