MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov on Monday said the Russian armed forces shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter over the Sea of Azov as it headed to Mariupol to evacuate the commanders of the Azov nationalist battalion.

Also, two Su-24 warplanes and one Su-25 were shot down, he said.

"A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in the area of Mariupol, five kilometers offshore over the Sea of Azov, as it headed for an urgent evacuation of Azov nationalist unit commanders that have abandoned their subordinates," Konashenkov said.

"Russian aircraft and air defense forces on March 28 shot down three planes of the Ukrainian Air Force: two Su-24s to the west of Korosten in the Zhitomir Region and one Su-25 over Druzhkovka in the Donetsk Region," he said.

In addition, a Ukrainian drone was shot down in the area of Chernobayevka.