A Ukrainian fighter jet was shot down by insurgents in the country's restive east on Sunday, a military spokesman said.

According to Oleksiy Dmytrashkivsky, the MiG-29 jet was downed in the Lugansk region, where government forces have been battling with the pro-independence insurgents since April.

The pilot ejected and was rescued by government troops, he added.

The incident came as a Russian humanitarian convoy was moving toward the Ukrainian border for clearance to enter the country. The relief supplies, including food, medicine, sleeping bags and electricity generators, will be distributed by the International Committee of the Red Cross to suffering civilians in Lugansk.

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/18/2014 page12)