A giant Russian military helicopter crashed in rebel Chechnya on Monday, and Russian news agencies said more than 80 soldiers were killed.
Chechen rebels said they shot down the Mi-26 transporter, but a top defence ministry spokesman quoted by Russian agencies blamed an engine fire for the disaster.
"With the help of a Zenit missile a Russian Mi-26 transport helicopter was shot down," said a statement on the rebel web site www.chechenpress.com. Russian military intelligence troops were on board, it added.
The aircraft had been flying to Khankala in Chechnya from the neighbouring Russian republic of North Ossetia when it came down. Russia's Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinsky told Interfax news agency that according to the flight manifest, 127 people and five crew had been on board the helicopter.
Itar-Tass reported 85 dead, while Interfax said that 32 servicemen had survived.