Rebels confirm downing of two Ukrainian fighter jets – WHDH
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) –
Just 20 miles from the site of the Malaysia Airlines plane wreckage, pro-Russia rebels have shot down two Ukrainian fighter jets Wednesday.
The separatists said one of the pilots was killed, and another was being sought by rebel fighters.
The insurgents denied having missiles that could hit a jetliner at cruising altitude, but they said they do have ground-to-air missiles that could hit targets as high as 11,500 feet.
In fighting on the ground, meanwhile, a rebel leader wrote on Facebook that his men have retreated from two villages on the Russian border about 30 miles from the scene of the crash. He said 30 rebels have been injured.