As fierce fighting continues in Ukraine’s rebel stronghold of Donetsk and other eastern towns, the army has said pro-Russian separatists have shot down a government fighter jet.<br /><br />It was not known if the pilot was able to eject or had been killed in the crash, military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told Ukrainian channel 112.<br /><br />Donetsk witnessed more shelling of residential neighbourhoods on Wednesday.<br /><br />The separatist-controlled administration said nine residents were killed, in addition to dozens more in the wider region.<br /><br />The Ukrainian government denies that its forces are targeting civilian areas. It claims several of its own volunteer fighters have been killed.<br /><br />Government forces are reportedly gaining the upper hand over the separatists.<br /><br />In Luhansk, the other rebel stronghold until recently, the Ukrainian army now controls a large part of the city.<br /><br />Heavy firing was reported as its assault on separatists continued.<br /><br />Amid the area’s humanitarian crisis, several lorries from a Russian aid convoy entered a Donetsk checkpoint after being stuck near the Russian-Ukrainian border.<br /><br />Moscow insists the trucks are only carrying food and medical aid but Ukraine fears the convoy could contain weapons destined for pro-Russian separatists.
