Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, says a Russian helicopter that crashed near Bentiu on Tuesday was shot down.

Communication with the aircraft was interrupted in the afternoon when the helicopter apparently was shot, Mr. Vitaly told the Russian news agency.

The Mi-8 helicopter went down at Tong, about 10km south of Bentiu, killing three Russian crew members on board. Co-pilot Alexander Lobkov, aged 40, survived the crash.

The deceased were Captain Andrei Berdnikov, aged 50; Flight Engineer Mr. Tuktasyn Ishmetov, aged 57; and Flight Attendant Mr. Alexey Sazontov, aged 33.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has demanded an immediate investigation into the crash.

The foreign ministry says whoever is responsible for the crash must be brought to justice.

Mr. Vitally says the investigation of the tragedy is under jurisdiction of the South Sudanese and Russian aviation authorities.

The UN says it is also carrying out investigation into the crash.