Russia did not shoot down Ukraine warplane, says Russia UN envoy

Russia did not shoot down a Ukrainian SU-25 fighter plane that was on military operations over eastern Ukraine, said Russia's U.N. ambassador on Thursday, where government forces are fighting to quell a
pro-Russian separatist rebellion.

When asked about the incident, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters: "We didn't do it."

The Ukrainian military accused Russian jets of being responsible. It was the first time Ukraine had directly accused Russia of using air power in the war.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)