A Kent bar has defended its decision to give out free drinks toasting Russian aircraft being shot down in Ukraine.

Staff at Coastal Bar in Ramsgate offered blue and yellow drinks to punters to celebrate the actions of a heroic fighter pilot dubbed the 'Ghost of Kyiv'.

The Ukrainian is said to have blasted 10 Russian jets out of the sky during the resistance against Vladimir Putin's forces.

Coastal Bar offered the drinks - dubbed 'Peace in Ukraine shots' - on Saturday night, posting pictures and a message on its Facebook page.

It read: "1 for every Russian plane shot down by the ghost of Kyiv #StandWithUkraine."

But the gesture was met with a mixed reaction.

Ange Martin wrote: "Just wondering...Will the profits of these shots be going to help those affected by the situation in Ukraine?"

'These shots were in solidarity with Ukraine and were given out for free...'

Chrissey Smith replied: "I was wondering that, if not, awful taste in my mouth."

She added: "You missed a trick to send money to help with the humanitarian effort to help people in."

However, the drinks were hailed as "brilliant" by others, and praised as being "such a good idea".

Posting a statement on Sunday, bosses at the bar defended their decision.

"These shots were in solidarity with Ukraine and were given out for free," they said.

"There are six different spirits in each shot and they are extremely time-consuming to make, which is why these were made in a batch and given away for free.

"These were made at the request of a few regular customers.

"People talking about peace in Ukraine is never a bad thing, and to raise its profile just in the same that most people have changed their profile pictures to the Ukrainian flag."

The bar has since said they will not be selling Russian vodka anymore and are trying to find a way to return it to the supplier.

A spokesman said: "We have removed our Russian standard vodka from sale and replaced it with Nemiroff vodka which is a Ukrainian vodka. We are looking at whether the Russian standard can be returned to suppliers"