Ukraine's Defence Ministry claims to shoot down 3 Russian jets and 2 helicopters as Putin's forces pushed back

Ukraine has shot down three Russian jets and two helicopters, the country's Defence Ministry has claimed.

The Defence Ministry revealed the news in an update on social media, while they also posted a picture of one of the planes shortly after it had been hit.

The update added: "Russian occupation forces continue to suffer losses from airstrikes and air strikes by the air force.

"On March 2, the Su-24m and Su-25 fighter jets crews carried out aviation support to the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, destroying colonies of military equipment and live force of Russians in Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions.

"Believe in the armed forces of Ukraine!"

Meanwhile, The city of Kherson has reportedly fallen to Russian forces, the city’s Mayor confirmed on Wednesday.

But Britain's Defence Ministry has released an intelligence statement saying the situation in Kherson “remains unclear".

The statement read: "The main body of the large Russian column advancing on Kyiv remains over 30km from the centre of the city having been delayed by staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion," Britain's defence ministry said in an intelligence update.

"The column has made little discernible progress in over three days. Despite heavy Russian shelling, the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol remain in Ukrainian hands. Some Russian forces have entered the city of Kherson but the military situation remains unclear."

"The Russian defence ministry has been forced to admit that 498 Russian soldiers have already been killed and 1,597 wounded in Putin's war. The actual number of those killed and wounded will almost certainly be considerably higher and will continue to rise."