KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Just 20 miles from the site of the Malaysia Airlines plane wreckage, pro-Russia rebels have shot down two Ukrainian fighter jets today. The separatists say one of the pilots was killed, and another is being sought by rebel fighters.
The Sukhoi-25 fighters were shot down 1:30 p.m. local time Wednesday over an area called Savur Mogila.
Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksiy Dmitrashkovsky says the planes may have been carrying up to two crew members each.
The insurgents deny having missiles that could hit a jetliner at cruising altitude, but they say they do have ground-to-air missiles that could hit targets as high as 11,500 feet.
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In fighting on the ground, meanwhile, a rebel leader writes on Facebook that his men have retreated from two villages on the Russian border about 30 miles from the scene of the crash. He says 30 rebels have been injured.