Ukraine has said it shot down an A-50 Russian reconnaissance plane and an Il-22 airborne command post, a blow to the Kremlin’s forces.

Ukrainian army Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced the aircraft had been hit on the Telegram messenger on Monday.

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern military command Natalia Humeniuk, , said that Russia had used the plane extensively to prepare for and conduct long-range missile strikes on Ukraine.