Ukraine military helicopter shot down by pro-Russia rebels over Slavyansk

A Ukrainian military helicopter has been shot down by rebels over Slavyansk amid heavy fighting around the insurgent-held city in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, said 14 people on board, including an army general, were killed when the helicopter was shot down on Thursday. He told the parliament in Kiev that rebels used a portable air defence missile to down the aircraft.

An Associated Press reporter witnessed the helicopter being shot down. It was not immediately clear exactly where it fell.

Slavyansk has become the centre of fighting between pro-Russia insurgents and government forces in recent weeks. The city, located 100 miles (160km) west of the Russian border, has seen constant clashes and its residential areas have often come under mortar shelling from government forces, prompting some residents to flee. -> read more

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