File photo: AFP

MOSCOW, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressing deep condolences over the tragic crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane near Tehran, the Kremlin said Wednesday.

"The head of the Russian state offered words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims," it said in a statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, a Ukrainian Airlines passenger plane, with 176 people on board, crashed near Iran's Imam Khomeini International Airport shortly after taking off. All passengers and crew were killed.