Second "pensioner pilot" shot down in Ukraine

Air force colonel, 63, is "hit by friendly fire" while flying for private military backing the invasion

Nikolai Markov, 63, a former Russian air force colonel, shot down in Luhansk - Daily Mail reports

He was flying a Su-25 bomber close to the ground when it was blown up. 

Markov had retired, but returned to battle for a private military company

There are conflicting reports about how he died. Some claim he was killed by friendly fire while flying low to the ground, but Ukraine says he was shot down by one of their Stinger missiles.

Markov was wingman to retired Major General Kanamat Botashev, 63, whose death was reported this week, after he was hit in a separate incident by Ukrainian fire. 

Both were flying for private military companies taking part in Putin's war in Ukraine.

Markov was Russian-born but had Belarusian citizenship and was buried in Lida, Belarus. The exact date of his burial was not made clear. 

Disgraced general Kanamat "Flop Gun" Botashev was also shot down by a Ukrainian Stinger missile.

He had been fired from the Russian air force after an unsanctioned joyride aerial acrobatics stunt - but was taken on as a mercenary pilot.