Luhansk Militias Shot Down Ukrainian Army Plane – Ukraine's DefMin

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry claims that the militias in Luhansk have shot down Ukraine’s Il-76 military aircraft. 

At least 49 people were on board, the CNN reports citing Ukraine’s military sources. 

An Il-76 plane which was carrying troops for the purpose of regular rotation was shot down when landing at Luhansk airport on the night from June 13 to 14. 

"In the night from June 13 to June 14 terrorists shot with anti-aircraft weapons and large caliber machine gun at a militaty transport Il-76 plane and shot it down as it was landing," said the Ukrainian Defense Ministry statement, published on its website. "There were troops, hardware, equipment and food on board the plane."

The information has been neither confirmed nor denied yet in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.

"We do not comment on the reports so far," the press service of the republic told ITAR-TASS.