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Ukraine conflict: Russia accused of shooting down jet Ukraine conflict: Russia accused of shooting down jet
(about 1 hour later)
A Ukrainian security spokesman has accused Russia's air force of shooting down one of its jets while it was on a mission over Ukrainian territory.A Ukrainian security spokesman has accused Russia's air force of shooting down one of its jets while it was on a mission over Ukrainian territory.
Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, said an Su-25 ground attack plane was downed on Wednesday evening.Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, said an Su-25 ground attack plane was downed on Wednesday evening.
Amateur video posted on Wednesday is said to show a plane being hit over Ukraine's eastern region of Luhansk. There was no comment from Moscow but rebels in eastern Ukraine say they shot down two Su-25 jets on Wednesday.
So far there has been no comment from the Russian government. Ukraine also alleges rockets were fired at its forces from Russian territory.
The rebels in eastern Ukraine say they shot down two Su-25 jets on Wednesday. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered his foreign ministry to react officially after reports that Grad rockets were fired at Ukrainian forces in Luhansk region, from over the border near the Russian village of Gukovo.
They were downed during fighting at the Marinivka border crossing, according to rebel commander Igor "Strelkov" Girkin. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a new round of US sanctions against his country, saying they will damage relations and hurt businesses from both countries.
There have been a number of allegations this week of more direct Russian involvement in the conflict, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow. He said the sanctions were driving bilateral relations towards a "dead end".
The Ukrainian government accused Russia of shooting down a transport plane. As shares in Russian interests hit by the sanctions fell sharply, markets also fell by more than 2.5%.
In addition, pro-Kiev activists have pointed to videos which appear to show Grad multiple rocket launchers being fired from Russian soil in the direction of Ukraine.
Nato says that Russian troop numbers on the border have increased again to about 12,000.
'Pilot ejected''Pilot ejected'
Mr Lysenko said the Su-25 had been hit at about 19:00 (16:00 GMT). Its pilot managed to eject and was rescued by Ukrainian forces, he said.Mr Lysenko said the Su-25 had been hit at about 19:00 (16:00 GMT). Its pilot managed to eject and was rescued by Ukrainian forces, he said.
Ukraine's defence ministry, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, said a second jet was hit by a portable surface-to-air missile, but that pilot was also unscathed and managed to land his plane safely. Ukraine's defence ministry, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, said a second jet had been hit by a portable surface-to-air missile, but that pilot was also unscathed and managed to land his plane safely.
The An-26 transport plane was shot down by a missile over eastern Ukraine on Monday, with the loss or reported capture of its crew members. Amateur video posted on Wednesday is said to show a plane being hit over Ukraine's eastern region of Luhansk.
Rebel commander Igor "Strelkov" Girkin said two Su-25 planes had been downed during fighting at the Marinivka border crossing.
President Poroshenko issued his instructions after reports, backed up by amateur videos, that Grad multiple rocket launchers were fired from Russian soil in the direction of Ukraine on Wednesday.
Analysis: Daniel Sandford, BBC News, Moscow
There is no doubt that the separatists have had access to Grad rockets for several weeks.
A large stretch of the border between Ukraine and Russia is still out of the control of Kiev, so separatists have been able to bring not just Grads, but also tanks, armoured personnel carriers and artillery into eastern Ukraine.
However letting weapons flow into Ukraine was - in diplomatic terms - a much less serious contribution to the conflict than it would be to allow Grads to be fired from Russian territory at Ukrainian troops.
The Ukrainian government accused Russia of shooting down an An-26 transport plane over eastern Ukraine on Monday, with the loss or reported capture of its crew members.
Ukrainian officials sought to argue that pro-Russian separatist rebels could not have downed the plane because they lacked missiles to hit it at high altitude.Ukrainian officials sought to argue that pro-Russian separatist rebels could not have downed the plane because they lacked missiles to hit it at high altitude.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a new round of US sanctions against his country, saying they will damage relations and hurt businesses from both countries. Nato says that Russian troop numbers on the border have increased again to about 12,000.
The president said that the sanctions were driving bilateral relations into a "dead end".
Both the US and EU have bolstered sanctions against Russia over its perceived support for separatists in Ukraine.
As shares in Russian interests hit by the sanctions fell sharply, markets also fell by more than 2.5%.