“Yes, it was brought down,” eastern Ukraine military operation spokesman, Vladislav Seleznyov, said when asked by Reuters about the helicopter’s fate.
“There was a three-man crew, in all nine people,” the spokesman is cited as saying.
The Ukraine’s National Guard fighters told the Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper that the Mi-8 helicopter was downed during takeoff from Karachun Mountain (a strategic high point near Slavyansk where the Ukrainian army’s artillery is deployed)....
The place where the shot came from has been established, with troops currently being deployed there, the source in the National Guard added.
A portable air defense system was used by self-defense forces to shoot the helicopter down, Dmitry Tymchuk from the Information Resistance group wrote on his Facebook page...
President Vladimir Putin has expressed concern over the resumption of hostilities in Slavyansk and urged Kiev to strive to bring about an end to the bloodshed in southeastern Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, now I have relevant information that in one of the most troubled areas – near the city of Slovyansk – the fighting is currently underway; [Kiev's] paratroopers have landed there and there are already victims. It’s sad,” Putin said during a press-conference in Vienna, Austria....................http://rt.com/news/168184-helicopter-down-east-ukraine/
24/6/14
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Ukraine army helicopter 'shot down' despite ceasefire...
ReplyDeleteThe Ukrainian military says one of its helicopters has been shot down by pro-Russian rebels in the east, killing all nine people on board.
It says the Mi-8 helicopter, used for transporting military cargo, was hit by a rocket shortly after take-off outside the rebel-held city of Sloviansk.
It comes a day after the rebels vowed to observe a ceasefire until Friday, in response to a government peace plan.
But Russia's president warned that the week-long truce was not enough.
Vladimir Putin said it should be extended to try to hold "substantive talks" between the Ukrainian government and the separatists.
The rebels have not commented publicly on the Ukrainian military's claims.
Before Tuesday, the rebels - who continue to hold towns in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk - had shot down at least two Ukrainian army helicopters and a plane................http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28002993
24/6/14