You're reading: Ukrainian defense minister: An-26 probably shot down by missile from Russian territory (UPDATED)

The crew members of the An-26 military transport plane that was shot down on Monday in Luhansk oblast have made contact with the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Defense Minister Valeriy Heletei has said in a report to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

“The defense minister of Ukraine has reported to the president that the crew of the An-26, which was on a mission as part of the active phase of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO), and which was shot down, got in contact with the General Staff,” the press service of the head of state reported on Monday.

He also said that given the fact that the plane was flying at an altitude of 6.5 kilometers, it couldn’t have been reached from a man-portable air defense system, which means that “the plane was struck by another, more powerful missile that was probably launched from Russian territory.”

A search and rescue operation is underway in order to return the crew of the aircraft to territory that is controlled by Ukrainian military, reads a statement posted on the president’s Web site.

As reported, spokesman for the information and analytical center of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Andriy Lysenko said contact was lost with the crew of an An-26 military transport plane in Luhansk oblast on Monday. Lysenko did not disclose other details.

At the same time, the anti-terrorist operation spokesman Vladyslav Selezniov said that the plane was carrying cargo, food and other necessities for the military. As of 1530 on Monday, a rescue operation continued, and there were no data about what had happened to the plane and its crew, he added.

An adviser to the interior minister, Anton Heraschenko, confirmed during a briefing on Monday that an An-26 military transport plane was downed in the ATO area, and the two pilots of the aircraft ejected.