MOSCOW

A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter crashed in the Oryol region, approximately 368 kilometers (229 miles) southwest of Moscow, on Friday while on a training flight, killing all on board.

"The helicopter went down in a deserted area. There is no damage on the ground. The crew did not survive. A technical malfunction is considered the preliminary cause of the crash," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, without mentioning the number of crew members.

The Russian Aerospace Forces has sent a commission to the site to investigate the crash, it said.

Oryol Region Governor Andrey Klychkov said emergency services and police are conducting investigations in the Uritsky District, where the incident occurred.

There is no threat to residents, he said, and asked the public not to share photos or videos from the scene.