Ukrainian President announces replacement of Air Force Commander. (Source: RBC Ukraine)

In his daily evening address, Mr Zelensky declared: "I have decided to replace the Air Force Commander... I am extremely grateful to all our military pilots."

The move comes just a day after the Ukrainian military announced that an F-16 fighter jet had crashed and the pilot had died while repelling a major Russian attack on August 26.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Staff said Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhka will temporarily command the country's air force.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the morning of August 31 that the country's army had officially taken control of the village of Kirovo (Ukraine calls it Pivnichnoe) in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

The announcement confirmed the successful advance of Russian troops in this direction and the consolidation of their positions in the area.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the operation to take control of Kirovo was carefully planned and carried out in the face of fierce resistance from the Ukrainian army.

After a series of clashes, the Russian army was able to repel the enemy and establish control over this strategically important settlement.