14 military killed in chopper downed in E. Ukraine -acting president
14 military killed in chopper downed in E. Ukraine -acting president
Edited time: May 29, 2014 11:19
Fourteen Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash near the city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk Region, according to the acting president of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov.
Anti-government protesters in Slavyansk have downed a Ukrainian forces helicopter in the south-east of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region.
Fourteen servicemen, including a general, Vladimir Kulchitsky, have have been killed in a helicopter crash near Slavyansk, according to the acting president of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov, who spoke at a parliamentary session in Kiev.
Kulchitsky, 51, was the head of the department of Combat and Special training in Ukraine’s National Guard.
Ukraine’s army has started shelling the eastern Ukraine cities of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, thereby resuming its massive military operation in the East of the country, local news outlets report.
“A full-scale military operation has begun in Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. BM-21 launch vehicle “Grad” are being used,” Donbas-based Ostrov agency says.
“Intensive shooting has been heard in the region, and thick black smoke seen,” he added.
One more damaged house in Slavyansk. The residents were outside during the attack.
On Wednesday a school and a kindergarten were shelled in Slavyansk. In the kindergarten at least 9 civilians were injured, including a 4-year old boy.
A teacher from the targeted school said that the shell exploded right above the school hall, where children are usually gathered for festive events, and part of the roof “was simply blown away.” Luckily, no children were in the hall at the time. All the pupils and teachers were quickly evacuated to the basement.
http://rt.com/news/162248-shelling-slavyansk-kramatorsk-ukraine/