MOSCOW. Dec 28 (Interfax) - Large pieces of Tupolev Tu-154 debris and personal belongings of passengers have been raised from the Black Sea floor, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
"Large fragments - a landing gear leg, an engine, fuselage casing elements - and personal belongings of passengers which have been retrieved by the Chernomorets 11 self-propelled sea crane are being towed to shore," the ministry said.
Once the salvaged fragments reach the shore, they will be handed over to detectives, it said.
Twelve large and at least 1,547 small pieces of the plane have been found by divers and submersibles since the beginning of the search, the ministry said.