5 Russian planes and 1 helicopter shot down, claims Ukraine

Five Russian planes and one helicopter have been shot down in Ukraine's Luhansk region, the country's military claimed on Thursday. Luhansk is one of the separatist regions in Ukraine that was recognised as independent by Russia earlier this week.

As per reports, Russia launched artillery attack along Ukraine's northern border with Russia and Belarus. Ukrainian forces were returning fire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine in a televised address on Thursday. He said the military action announced by him will seek to "demilitarize" Ukraine and came in response to threats from Ukraine.