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Ukraine crisis: Military plane shot down in Luhansk | Ukraine crisis: Military plane shot down in Luhansk |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pro-Russian rebels have shot down a military transport plane in eastern Ukraine, officials say, reportedly killing dozens of service personnel. | |
Ukraine's defence ministry said the Il-76 transport plane crashed after coming under anti-aircraft fire over Luhansk. | |
Reuters news agency quotes military spokesman Vladislav Seleznov as saying 49 military personnel were killed. | |
The plane was carrying troops and military equipment and was about to land at the city's airport. | The plane was carrying troops and military equipment and was about to land at the city's airport. |
A statement from the ministry said that "terrorists" had "cynically and treacherously" fired on the aircraft. | |
The ministry offered its condolences to the families of those who died. | |
The incident came less than a week after pro-Russia rebels launched a series of attacks on Ukrainian forces at Luhansk International Airport. | The incident came less than a week after pro-Russia rebels launched a series of attacks on Ukrainian forces at Luhansk International Airport. |
The airport has been under the control of government forces but the rebels hold most of the rest of the city. | The airport has been under the control of government forces but the rebels hold most of the rest of the city. |
'Russian' tanks | |
Luhansk is the main city of one of two eastern regions where pro-Russia separatists have declared independence from Kiev. | Luhansk is the main city of one of two eastern regions where pro-Russia separatists have declared independence from Kiev. |
An "anti-terrorist operation" by Ukraine government forces has left at least 270 people dead over the past two months. | An "anti-terrorist operation" by Ukraine government forces has left at least 270 people dead over the past two months. |
Meanwhile, the US said it was confident that tanks being used by separatists in eastern Ukraine came from Russia. | Meanwhile, the US said it was confident that tanks being used by separatists in eastern Ukraine came from Russia. |
"Russia will claim these tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces, but no Ukrainian tank units have been operating in that area," a US state department spokeswoman said. | |
"We are confident that these tanks came from Russia," she added. | "We are confident that these tanks came from Russia," she added. |
The appearance of the tanks, filmed in various towns in the Donetsk region, sparked a row between Kiev and Moscow. | The appearance of the tanks, filmed in various towns in the Donetsk region, sparked a row between Kiev and Moscow. |
Russia has denied allegations that the tanks had entered Ukraine from its territory. | Russia has denied allegations that the tanks had entered Ukraine from its territory. |