Eurasia Press & News
Pro-Russian separatists have claimed to have shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 military aircraft east of the country on Thursday.
The fighter jet was shot down near the village of Zhdanivka, some 40kms northeast of the city of Donetsk, Russian-owned news agency Interfax-Ukraine reported quoting separatist sources.
Pro-Russian separatists have also claimed to have captured the two pilots, who had ejected themselves out of the aircraft prior to it being downed.
The separatists, who are calling for their own independence, in one of their two strongholds – the other being the city of Lugansk – have downed a number of state military aircraft during the conflict which started in February.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have continued their aerial bombardment on the two cities in preparation for a ground offensive, according to Russian state TV.
