BREAKING NEWS: Aircraft belonging to Russia's Defense Ministry with at least 91 onboard disappears from radar after departure in Sochi (TASS)

Russian Tu-154 aircraft with 91 people aboard missing over the Black Sea, the Defense ministry says

Journalists & musicians were aboard due to take part in a New Year's concert at Russian airbase in Syria - MoD

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was personally coordinating the rescue efforts, and President Vladimir Putin has received official reports on the incident.

Aircraft belonging to Russia's Defense Ministry with at least 91 onboard disappears from radar after departure in Sochi (TASS)
Unconfirmed reports say missing Russian plane was flying to Syria's Latakia province

Russian Vladimir Putin moves troops onto 'combat alert' as Ukraine fighting spills across border

Tensions between Moscow and Kiev continue to mount with Vladimir Putin's latest show of force as Russia dismisses Petro Poroshenko's "peace plan" as an ultimatum.

Russia's Vladimir Putin has ordered troops in central Russia onto “combat alert” in snap military drills a day after confirming the country is beefing up its presence on the Ukrainian border.

The move, which will not affect troops stationed on the Ukrainian border, follows a series of reports of fighting in eastern Ukraine spilling over the frontier into Russia. Announcing the move on Saturday morning Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, said the drills would run from June 21 to June 28.

“In accordance with [Mr Putin’s] order, from 11.00am Moscow time the troops of the central military district as well as formations and military units on its territory have been put on full combat alert,” Mr Shoigu said.