This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27845313
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: Military plane shot down in Luhansk | Ukraine crisis: Military plane shot down in Luhansk |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pro-Russian rebels have shot down a military transport plane in eastern Ukraine, killing all 49 Ukrainian service personnel on board. | |
| Ukraine's defence ministry said the Il-76 transport plane crashed after coming under anti-aircraft fire over Luhansk. | Ukraine's defence ministry said the Il-76 transport plane crashed after coming under anti-aircraft fire over Luhansk. |
| In a statement it said "terrorists" had "cynically and treacherously" fired on the aircraft. | In a statement it said "terrorists" had "cynically and treacherously" fired on the aircraft. |
| 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. |
| It is thought to be the biggest loss of life suffered by government forces in a single incident since Kiev began an operation to try to defeat the insurgency in east Ukraine. | It is thought to be the biggest loss of life suffered by government forces in a single incident since Kiev began an operation to try to defeat the insurgency in east Ukraine. |
| Military spokesman Vladislav Seleznov said "preliminary information" suggested all 49 military personnel on board the aircraft - nine flight crew and 40 troops - were killed. | |
| He added that the investigation was just beginning into how the separatists brought down the plane, but initial reports indicated that three "Stinger-like" missiles were used. | He added that the investigation was just beginning into how the separatists brought down the plane, but initial reports indicated that three "Stinger-like" missiles were used. |
| Analysis: BBC's David Stern, Kiev | Analysis: BBC's David Stern, Kiev |
| The question now is how the government will respond. After the shock of the large number of deaths - the biggest single loss suffered by the military so far - pressure will mount for newly-elected President Petro Poroshenko to end the conflict. | The question now is how the government will respond. After the shock of the large number of deaths - the biggest single loss suffered by the military so far - pressure will mount for newly-elected President Petro Poroshenko to end the conflict. |
| But will it mean an added impetus to reach a ceasefire, or a further escalation of the fighting? And what of the arms used to bring down the large transport plane - were they Russian supplied, as Ukrainian officials have insisted? | But will it mean an added impetus to reach a ceasefire, or a further escalation of the fighting? And what of the arms used to bring down the large transport plane - were they Russian supplied, as Ukrainian officials have insisted? |
| The chances for peace in Ukraine's east still exist. But with every major incident like the one in Luhansk on Saturday morning, they seem to recede even further into the distance. | The chances for peace in Ukraine's east still exist. But with every major incident like the one in Luhansk on Saturday morning, they seem to recede even further into the distance. |
| 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 | '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. |
| The "anti-terrorist operation" by Ukraine government forces has left at least 270 people dead over the past two months. | The "anti-terrorist operation" by Ukraine government forces has left at least 270 people dead over the past two months. |
| Ukraine's new President Petro Poroshenko had said that fighting must end "this week" following his inauguration in Kiev last Sunday. | Ukraine's new President Petro Poroshenko had said that fighting must end "this week" following his inauguration in Kiev last Sunday. |
| 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. | "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. |