Authorities in Moldova on Tuesday said a missile had shot down a Soviet-made Mi-26 helicopter in Afghanistan that belonged to an aviation company in the ex-Soviet state, killing six Ukrainians on board.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban, leading the insurgency against foreign troops and the Afghan government, said it had shot down a Chinook helicopter in southern Helmand province. It was uncertain whether the two reports referred to the same incident.

The Moldovan statement said the Mi-26, a large transport and cargo helicopter, was on a humanitarian mission for NATO-led forces when it was hit. It said the aircraft belonged to the Pectox-Air aviation firm.

The statement gave no details on where the incident had occurred, but said a six-member Ukrainian crew had died.