Aaron Katersky of ABC News reports that Two Ukrainian Jets Shot Down, Defense Ministry Says, as tensions escalate and fighting with separatists continues in Donetsk.
Two Ukrainian military jets were shot down in the Donetsk region of the country today, the Ukrainian defense ministry said.
The planes were identified as Sukhoi-25 fighter jets. The fate of the planes' pilots was not immediately known.
It happened at 12:30 p.m. Ukraine time (5:30 a.m. ET). Defense ministry did not state what kind of weapon was used to down the jets.
The single seated Sukhoi-25 jets were shot down in the same part of Ukraine that the Malaysian Airlines flight 17 was shot down killing 298 people.
Also, the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffry Pyatt complained that Russia has not stopped the flow of heavy weapons into eastern Ukraine.
“We are very concerned that Russia has not pulled back on the flow of heavy weapons,” Pyatt said. “What needs to happen is Russia needs to stop sending weapons and fighters across the border.”
How sad and scary. It looks as if we may be seeing an escalation of fighting between Ukraine and the separatists, with the United States and Russia standing behind the two sides. We seem to be having a great deal riding on Russian President Vladimir Putin's common sense and restraint. Two characteristics he is not well known for. Having also admitted to not having a soul, Putin gives us increasing cause for concern.