Pro-Russian Separatists Shoot Down Ukrainian Jet, Killing 49

Pro-Russian separatists shot down a Ukrainian transport jet Friday night, killing forty Ukrainian soldiers and nine crew members, the deadliest incident since separatist groups in eastern Ukraine began agitating against the Ukrainian government two months ago.

“All linked to this terrorist action of such scale will be punished, for sure,” recently-elected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko declared Saturday.

The U.S. and western powers widely believe that Moscow is supporting the separatist groups, which began resisting the government after Russia annexed Crimea in response to the overthrow of Russia-backed former president Viktor Yanukovych. French and German leaders expressed renewed concern to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the anti-government violence, and the incident risks rekindling tensions between the U.S. and Russia.

Video posted by RT purports to show the moments the jet went down:

[h/t Bloomberg]

[Image via screengrab]

——
>> Follow Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) on Twitter

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!