Ukraine: Russia Fired On Plane Over Crimea

Ukraine: Russia Fired On Plane Over Crimea
An armed man, believed to be a Russian serviceman, stands guard outside an Ukrainian military base in Perevalnoye on March 13, 2014. As Russian forces have taken control of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, protesters have revelled in making comparisons between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler, combining their names in slogans that conclude that 'Putler has gone mad.' These personal attacks, unseen until a few weeks ago among the protesters who have camped out since November demanding a new government, contrast with Putin's record popularity in Russia. AFP PHOTO/ Filippo MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
An armed man, believed to be a Russian serviceman, stands guard outside an Ukrainian military base in Perevalnoye on March 13, 2014. As Russian forces have taken control of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, protesters have revelled in making comparisons between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler, combining their names in slogans that conclude that 'Putler has gone mad.' These personal attacks, unseen until a few weeks ago among the protesters who have camped out since November demanding a new government, contrast with Putin's record popularity in Russia. AFP PHOTO/ Filippo MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)

KIEV, March 13 (Reuters) - Ukraine accused Russian forces in Crimea of firing on one of its reconnaissance planes from an armoured personnel carrier on Thursday, close to the isthmus that joins the Black Sea peninsula to mainland Ukraine.

In a statement noting this was the second such incident in five days, the Ukrainian border guard service said its aircraft was on patrol in early afternoon when "from a Russian guard post near Armyansk, there was flagrant shooting from an APC".

It gave no further details and made no mention of damage to the plane, which it said was unarmed. Russia has denied its troops are involved in the takeover of Crimea by pro-Russian armed groups. Regional authorities are holding a referendum on Sunday on a plan to quit Ukraine and unite with Russia. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)

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