Ukrainian Defence Ministry: We crashed a plane loaded with Russian soldiers.

(Photo is illustration)

Ukraine's Defence Ministry says it has brought down one of Moscow's troop carriers near Kiev, killing a large number of Russian paratroopers.

However, the Russian defence ministry has not yet commented on the reports.

The Defence Ministry in Kiev wrote in a Facebook post that Ukrainian fighter Su-27 aircraft seized a Russian troop transport “IL-76 MD”, while trying to launch parachutists in the Kiev region, writes BBC.

According to specifications released, the plane can transport up to 167 soldiers, as well as a crew of 6 to 7 people.