Ukraine helicopter shot down reportedly left 14 people dead, including a general, says acting President Oleksandr Turchynov to the Parliament. On Thursday, the Ukraine helicopter shot down occurred as the Ukrainian military chopper was shot down by "terrorists" near Slovyansk.
According to Turchynov, the chopper was carrying soldiers for a troop rotation when it had been shot down with a Russian rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
CNN reports that according to a spokesman for the militants, the militants in the rebel stronghold claimed they were responsible for the Ukraine helicopter shot down. He said that the aircraft had flown there from Kramatorsk, where the Ukrainian military has a substantial presence.
According to The Guardian, the large loss of life from the Ukraine helicopter shot down will cause a huge blow to the Ukrainian military. On Monday, the military reportedly toughened its approach to the separatist movement when it launched a fierce assault on militants who had taken control of part of Donetsk airport.
Meanwhile, there is also another issue brewing apart from battle between the militants and the Ukrainian military which caused the Ukraine helicopter shot down. The self-declared mayor in Slovyansk reportedly said that pro-Russia separatist militants are holding four European observers who have been missing since Monday. He, however, has declined to indicate their location.
Vyacheslav Ponomarev said on Thursday, "Our militants got them. 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."
It seems that the Ukraine helicopter shot down is just the cherry on top for the militant's activities. Ponomarev also said that the monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were not being held in the town. He said that they also are not "exchange material," which indicates that they were not being held to swap for separatists detained by Kiev authorities.
Ponomarev had reportedly been in contact with the OSCE, and they are currently assessing the situation. He said he would probably release the monitors soon but wouldn't say when.
On Wednesday, prior to the Ukraine helicopter shot down, Yevhen Perebynis, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that a pro-Russia group was holding the monitors and negotiations for their release were "in process."
According to the OSCE, the four team members who were Swiss, Turkish, Estonian and Danish, were on a routine patrol Monday east of Donetsk city when they were last heard from.
Before the Ukraine helicopter shot down occurred, on Wednesday, there were fears Wednesday for the safety of another group of 11 monitors who went missing after being stopped at a roadblock in Marinka, west of Donetsk city. The group however was later re-established contact with the OSCE. On Monday, there was also another attack by the militants after they seized a terminal in the Donetsk International Airport on Monday and left dozens of pro-Russia separatists killed.
Ukraine helicopter shot down separatists said that their movement is homegrown. According to CNN, the attacks may be intended to provoke Moscow to respond during a time when the separatist movement is under pressure to find a way forward and has shown signs of division within its ranks.
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