Russian President Sends Condolences over Air Crash in Ukraine

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 29, 2002

Russian President Sends Condolences over Air Crash in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolence Saturday to his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma over the air-crash at Ukraine's western city of Lviv that has killed at least 78 people.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolence Saturday to his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma over the air-crash at Ukraine's western city of Lviv that has killed at least 78 people.

Putin said he was greatly shocked by the tragedy at Lviv and asked Kuchma to convey his deep condolences to the relatives of the dead and injured, said presidential press secretary Alexei Gromov

"It is hard to find the words of consolation for those who havelost their loved ones. At this tragic moment, the people of Russiaare mourning with you," the president said in his message to Kuchma.

A Ukrainian fighter jet hurtled to the ground and cart-wheeled in flames into crowds at an air display in Lviv Saturday, killing at least 78 people and injuring 115 in the world's deadliest air show disaster.

World's worst air show disaster

The Russian-built Sukhoi-27 fighter plane crashed into a largeaudience at an air show Saturday in Ukraine, killing at least 83 people and injured 116.

The jetfighter crashed into the crowd of spectators watching the air show at Skniliv aerodrome in the city of Lviv, where is near the border with Poland.

The two pilots ejected just seconds before the plane began to somersault and exploded into a ball of flame.

A spokesman for Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry said early Sunday that the death toll had risen from 78 to 83, and hinted it could rise further, for many of those in hospital were in criticalcondition.

The Su-27 fighter is comparable to the United States F-15 Eagle,but has a superior performance in many aspects.

One of the world's most deadly previous air show disaster was in a U.S. air base in Germany in 1988. Italian jets that were performing a complicated maneuver collided in the air and crashed into the crowd, killing 70 and injuring about 400.

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