Wreckage of £38m Russian fighter jet pictured burning in field

Ukrainian forces have claimed to have downed a Russian jet worth £38million as they continue to defend their country from Vladimir Putin's invasion.

Images released by Ukrainian Armed Forces on Sunday showed the burning remains of an Su-35 fighter shot down near the city of Izyum, in the Kharkiv region.

It is believed to be the first Su-35 which the Ukrainian forces have shot down since Putin ordered his troops to invade on 24 February.

Video of a Russian soldier reported to be the pilot was shared on social media, showing him kneeling near the burning wreckage, although this was unverified.

Ukrainian MP Anton Gerashchenko claimed the pilot ejected from the aircraft as it was going down and was captured as he tried to flee.

The Su-35 is a twin-engine supermaneuverable fighter jet, bought into the Russian service in 2014.

The 22m meter long aircraft can reach a top speed of 2,400kmh (1,500mph), and carries a number of weapons including rockets, air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface missiles.

Russia is believed to have suffered significant losses since the conflict began, including thousands of soldiers and huge numbers of equipment.

Watch: Volodymyr Zelensky sends appeal to Grammys over war in Ukraine

Latest figures from local news in Ukraine have estimated over 18,000 troops have died, along with 143 planes, 644 tanks and thousands of other vehicles.

While the figures cannot be independently verified, Western officials have pointed towards evidence of significant losses on the Russia side as they come up against stiff opposition.

It was claimed over the weekend that two Russian soldiers died after eating pies laced with poison which Ukrainian citizens "treated" them with.

The troops from the third Motor Rifle Division, are said to have died instantly after locals in Izium "gifted" them the pies.

Another 28 soldiers have reportedly been rushed to hospital, and hundreds more are said to be suffering "severe illness" from poisoned food and drink given to them.

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence Intelligence wrote on social media on Saturday: "Ukrainians resist the occupiers by all available means.

"According to available information, local residents of the Izium district (Kharkiv region) 'treated' Russians from the third Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Federation with poisoned pies.

"As a result, two occupiers died at once, another 28 were taken to the intensive care unit. Their current state is being clarified."

Putin has been accused of carrying out a genocide in Ukraine, after Ukraine's Ministry of Defence released images on Sunday showing what was left behind in the city of Bucha following a retreat of Russian forces.

Footage showed bodies left lying in the street, some with the hands tied behind their backs and shot in the head.

Ukrainian authorities have claimed 410 civilians were killed in Bucha and Irpin, with mass graves being dug for the victims.

In Motyzhyn, around 20 miles west of the city of Bucha, the mayor and her family were reportedly discovered in a mass grave.

Ukraine's former ambassador to Austria Olexander Scherba said Olga Sukhenko was found buried with her husband and son.

Of the 20 people found in the put, some bore the marks of torture, authorities said, including broken arms and fingers.

Journalists who have visited the area since the Russians retreat have said there is "clear evidence" of war crimes being left behind, including that of torture and rape.

Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of torturing and executing hundreds of people in a Facebook post after the bodies were discovered.

“I want every mother of every Russian soldier to see the bodies of the killed people in Bucha, in Irpin, in Hostomel,” Zelensky said. “What did they do? Why were they killed?”

“War crimes in Bucha and other cities during the Russian occupation will also be considered by the UN Security Council on Tuesday,” he added.