MOSCOW (Xinhua) -- A Su-25 fighter crashed while returning to its base in the Belgorod region Thursday "after completing a combat mission," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said that the fighter crashed in a deserted area, killing the pilot, and the accident did not cause any losses on the ground, adding that a technical malfunction led to the accident.

Earlier in the day, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported via Telegram that a fighter of the Ministry of Defense crashed in Valuisky district, and an investigation team is working at the accident site.

It was previously reported that the pilot had ejected from the plane and was still alive.

The Belgorod region is located in southwestern Russia, near Ukraine.