"The first take-off was carried out by an Mi-8 with an external cargo suspension without passengers on board," the ministry said in a statement.
"The second take-off was performed with passengers who were workers on shifts at the oil station.
"According to preliminary information, the Mi-8 carrying passengers for reasons unknown collided with the external suspension of the second helicopter after take-off. As a result it fell, was destroyed and burned."
The ministry added that it had set up a commission to investigate the crash.
According to the TASS news agency, the helicopter's black boxes have already been recovered and appear undamaged.
The crash comes four months after another fatal accident involving an Mi-8 in eastern Russia, which killed six people.
SKY News.