Ukraine Rebels Shoot Down Kiev MiG-29 Fighter Jet

Armed pro-Russian rebels have shot down a Ukrainian fighter jet in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, says the Ukranian military.

"In the course of an assignment to eliminate a large group of terrorist, a MiG-29 was shot down this morning in Luhansk region," a Ukrainian army spokesperson Oleksiy Dmitrashkovsky told reporters.

The pilot has ejected from the aircraft and was later found by Ukranian security forces.

Details about the aircraft or the missile used are not immediately available.

Fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists has been escalating in eastern Ukrainian regions in recent months.

Rebels, who are widely suspected to be backed by Russia, are believed to have shot down the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet MH17 on 17 July.