Putin urgently sends troops to border to repel Ukrainian attack: 'Hundreds of Zelensky's soldiers, plus tanks and armoured vehicles smash into Russia'

Vladimir Putin has desperately sent troops to repel hundreds of soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles that have stormed across Russia's border in what Moscow claimed was a Ukrainian attack.

Moscow's defence ministry said it has rushed troops and aviation units to the southwestern region after Ukrainian units allegedly tried to attack Russian positions just inside the border, according to Russian officials.

'Border defence troops, together with military units of the FSB border force, are repelling attacks and inflicting fire damage on the enemy,' the defence ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

Russia claims Ukraine launched the foray early this morning with as many as 300 troops, 11 tanks and more than 20 armoured combat vehicles, claiming to have struck back with airstrikes.

Intense footage appeared to show explosions hitting the ground from a driver's window some eight miles inside the Russian border today.

Another clip showed a fighter jet tearing through the sky towards black smoke billowing up ahead. The plumes appeared to be coming from the shell of a burnt out lorry in the road.