Did Russia Just Shoot Down A Ukrainian Transport Plane?

A picture taken on July 14, 2014 displays fragments of a Ukrainian AN-26 transport aircraft near the small eastern village of Davido-Nikolsk, in the Lugansk region, on July 14, 2014. Pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Ukraine claimed Monday that they had shot down a military transport plane. Three parachutes were spotted in the sky after the aircraft was reportedly hit near Lugansk and patrols were sent to find the crew, rebels claimed. Stephane Orjollet/AFP/Getty Images

Ukraine Military Plane Shot Down As Fighting Rages -- BBC

A Ukrainian military transport aircraft has been shot down in the east, amid fighting with separatist rebels, Ukrainian officials say.

They say the An-26 plane was hit at an altitude of 6,500m (21,325ft).

The plane was targeted with "a more powerful missile" than a shoulder-carried missile, "probably fired" from Russia. The crew survived.

Russia has made no comment. Separately, Nato reported a Russian troop build-up near the Ukraine border.

A Nato official confirmed to the BBC that the military alliance had observed a significant increase of Russian troops bringing their number to an estimated 10-12,000.

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More News On Reports That Russia Shot Down A Ukrainian Transport Plane

Kiev says military plane downed by shots 'likely' from Russia -- AFP
Kiev suspects rocket that downed military plane fired from Russia -- AP
Ukraine military plane shot down -- Belfast Telegraph
Military plane shot down by rocket in eastern Ukraine as fighting intensifies -- FOX News
Russia suspected of downing Ukrainian military plane -- The Times
An-26 probably shot down by missile from Russian territory - Ukrainian defense minister -- Interfax-Ukraine

My Comment; According to the Ukraine military .... this plane was shot down from an altitude of 6,500m (21,325ft). The only one who has missiles to reach this altitude are from Russia. If true .... Russia has upped it's role in the Ukraine civil war exponentially.

Update: Is Ukraine about to change it's military tactics to placate Russia? .... Poroshenko Plans to Change Military Tactics in East Ukraine, Strengthen Defense of Border ( RIA Novosti). Hmmmm ... I doubt it .... but there must be at least someone in Kiev who has to be concerned on where all of this is heading.