A Ukrainian military plane was shot down Saturday by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Luhansk, the defence ministry said.
A statement posted on the defence ministry's website said that the Il-76 transport plane crashed after coming under heavy firing over the eastern city of Luhansk, BBC reported.
The statement said that 49 people were onboard the plane.
The plane was carrying troops and military equipment and was about to land at the Luhansk airport.