In line with Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree, Russia is having a day of national mourning Thursday, August 26, in memory of the people who died in air crashes in the Tula region 230 kilometers south off Moscow and in the southern Rostov region in the late hours of Tuesday.

Mourn of the plane crash victims in Moscow

National flags will be flying at half-mast across the country, and radio and television broadcasters have been asked to cancel entertainment programs.

Spokespeople for the six major channels -- ORT, RTR, TVC, Kultura, NTV, and REN-TV -- said their programming directorates had replaced comedies and some of the shows by documentaries.

They also said the channels' managers were reviewing the promos, some of which might be taken off the air on this particular day.

ORT sources said all the promo cells would be skipped in newscasts.

At the same time, the channels reporting to the All-Russia State Broadcasting Company will continue live coverage of the Athens Olympics, sources said.

Source: Itar-Tass