- Title: UKRAINE: Ukrainian army says rocket destroys helicopter near Kramatorsk
- Date: 25th April 2014
- Summary: KRAMATORSK, UKRAINE (APRIL 25, 2014) (REUTERS) FIRE ENGINE DRIVING TOWARDS AIRFIELD PEOPLE OUTSIDE AIRFIELD VARIOUS OF ARMED MASKED UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS UKRAINIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KRAMATORSK RESIDENT, OLEG, SAYING: "A helicopter was taking off and then crashed. Crashed on top of a small plane. Crashed on top of a small plane and exploded. Yes it was on fire, you see firemen, four fire engines. You see, smoke is probably still billowing." PEOPLE OUTSIDE AIRFIELD FIRE ENGINE
- Embargoed: 10th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVA2ORT1R9WJEPB5JY66PW0HIM7I
- Story Text: A Ukrainian military helicopter was hit by rocket fire and exploded while on the ground on Friday (April 25) at an airfield in Kramatorsk near the rebel-held eastern city of Slaviansk, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said.
The explosion was the result of fire from a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, the ministry said in a statement. There were no casualties, it said.
A senior security official earlier told a news briefing that the Mi-8 transport helicopter was hit in the fuel tank by sniper fire and that the pilot was injured.
"A helicopter was taking off and then crashed. Crashed on top of a small plane. Crashed on top of a small plane and exploded. Yes it was on fire, you see firemen, four fire engines. You see, smoke is probably still billowing," local resident Oleg said.
Video footage on a social media website showed thick black smoke rising over the airfield. Local residents said they had heard shooting and three explosions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
