2 military jets shot down in Ukraine days after MH17 disaster

Ukraine's defence ministry says two of its military fighter jets have been shot down in the east of the country.

The attack comes less than a week after 298 civilians were killed when a surface to air missile blew Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 out of the sky.

That attack has been blamed on pro-Russian rebels based in the east of Ukraine, but they have denied having any involvement in the disaster.

The two Sukhoi-25 fighters were shot down 1:30 p.m. local time today over a rebel-held area called Savur Mogila.

Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksiy Dmitrashkovsky says the planes may have been carrying up to two crew members each.

The area in which the attack took place is around 20 miles south of the village of Hrabove - where the majority of the wreckage from MH17 is scattered.

It is also only around five miles south of the towns of Snizhne and Torez, where photographs and videos posted online appear to show mobile BUK missile launchers stationed early last week.