Russia's Defense Ministry has issued an official statement just hours after the start of the invasion of Ukraine. 

As reported by the Russian media RT, the Ministry of Defense has announced that "Russia has destroyed the air defense and the air force of Ukraine with a series of precise attacks". 

Russian officials also said Thursday morning that "Ukrainian soldiers are not resisting Russian advancing troops who have entered after President Vladimir Putin signed an order to launch a 'special operation' in Donbass." 

At the same time, officials denied the statement made by Kiev that at least one Russian military plane had crashed over Ukraine during the offensive. 

Russia launched the offensive against Ukraine on Thursday morning on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, who said the purpose of the operation was to demilitarize Ukraine.