DONETSK, Ukraine, August 23 (RIA Novosti) - More than a hundred Russian rescuers arrived early Wednesday morning at the scene of a Russian airliner tragedy in Ukraine that claimed more than 170 lives, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
The Tu-154 jet owned by St. Petersburg-based Pulkovo Airlines was flying from the Russian resort of Anapa on the Black Sea to St. Petersburg via Ukrainian territory when it crashed in stormy weather 45 kilometers (30 miles) outside Donetsk in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border.
The source said the 110-strong rescue team from ministry's southern department and 14 special-purpose vehicles would take part in recovery works at the scene. A team from Moscow arrived late last night.
Wednesday is a day of mourning in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin declared Thursday a day of mourning in Russia.
