All 49 On Board Fatally Injured

Pro-Russian separatists have shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane with 49 people on board, quashing any thoughts about a reduction of tensions in the conflict.

The Washington Post reports that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has vowed to retaliate against the rebel group.

The transport was on approach to the airport in Luhansk in the eastern part of the country. Separatists have taken control of government buildings there and declared an independent state. The airport is one of the few facilities still under the control of the Ukrainian military, which said anti-aircraft weapons were used to bring down the Ilyushin-76.

"Ukraine needs peace," Poroshenko said at a meeting of the national defense and security advisors after the shootdown, "but terrorists will receive an adequate response." The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of arming the separatists.

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that no negotiations would be possible as long as there is Ukrainian military activity in the region.

(Ilyushin-76 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.state.gov