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Ukrainian authorities confirm 49 dead as plane shot down in Lugansk.

The prosecutor's office launched an inquiry into the case

© AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

LUGANSK, June 14 (ITAR-TASS) - The Ukrainian prosecutor's office has confirmed that 49 servicemen died when a military transport plane was shot down at Lugansk airport.

"About 01:10 on June 14, 2014, when landing at Lugansk airport, an Il-76 military transport plane of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was downed by a shot from an antiaircraft missile system. On board the plane, aside from nine crewmembers, were 40 servicemen. All died," the press service of the prosecutor's office said.

The prosecutor's office launched an inquiry into the case.

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