MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. A Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter aircraft that crashed in the Odessa Region on August 10 was shot down by friendly fire, a source in Russian defense circles told TASS.

According to the data posted by Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation on its Telegram channel, a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter crashed during a combat mission in the Berezovka district of the Odessa Region after "an abnormal situation" emerged. As a result, the fighter jet caught fire and the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The Ukrainian Air Force also reported on its Telegram channel earlier that "an abnormal situation emerged during a missile launch."

"In actual fact, however, the MiG-29 was shot down by friendly fire," the defense source said.

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation opened a criminal probe after the fighter’s crash. Investigators worked at the crash site throughout the night. However, the search for the fighter jet’s flight recorders still continues and investigators are questioning witnesses and military personnel.

This is the second incident in Ukraine in less than two weeks. On July 29, the Ukrainian military lost an F-16 fighter and the pilot had to eject due to an abnormal situation.