At least 14 people, including a general, were killed Thursday when a Ukrainian military helicopter was shot down by "terrorists" near Slovyansk, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov told parliament.Turchynov said the chopper, which was carrying soldiers for a troop rotation, was shot down using a Russian rocket-propelled grenade launcher.Militants in the rebel stronghold claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter, a spokesman for the militants said. The aircraft had flown there from Kramatorsk, he said, where the Ukrainian military has asubstantial presence.The large loss of life will be a major blow to the Ukrainian military, which on Monday toughened its approach to the separatist movement when it launcheda fierce assault on militants who'd taken control of part of Donetsk airport.Also in Slovyansk, the self-declared mayor told CNN that pro-Russia separatist militants are holding four European observers who have been missing since Monday.But he declined to say where exactly."Our militants got them," Vyacheslav Ponomarev said Thursday. "They were detained because they didn't respect my request. I asked them not to leave Donetsk (city). They decided they were smarter and could come here."Ponomarev added that the monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were not being held in the town.They also are not "exchange material," he said, indicating they were not being held to swap for separatists detained by Kiev authorities.
Ponomarev said he had been in contact with the OSCE,and they were assessing the situation. He said he would likely release the monitors soon, but wouldn't say when.
...CNN
Tweet Follow @punshcomempower
50% off Hosting for your Website at GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
Host a site without stress on namecheap eApps|YOUR APP HOSTING PROVIDER
Submit your Website
Free webmaster resources including SEO Tools, Computer Glossary, Templates Sign up to BIGTIMEBUX today!
0 comments:
Post a Comment