Russia did not shoot down Ukraine warplane, says Russia U.N. envoy

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia did not shoot down a Ukrainian SU-25 fighter plane that was on military operations over eastern Ukraine, said Russia's U.N. ambassador on Thursday, where government forces are fighting to quell a pro-Russian separatist rebellion. When asked about the incident, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters: "We didn't do it." The Ukrainian military accused Russian jets of being responsible. It was the first time Ukraine had directly accused Russia of using air power in the war. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)