Ukraine crisis, Helicopter shot down

World Today

The Ukrainian government says at least nine people are feared dead after a helicopter carrying military cargo was shot down on Tuesday in eastern Ukraine. This effectively breaks a weeklong ceasefire declared by Ukraine’s president last Friday. However, people living in eastern Ukraine say there never was a ceasefire, they’ve been under fire for days. CCTV’s Stephanie Freid in Kiev with more.

 Ukraine crisis, Helicopter shot down

The Ukrainian government says at least nine people are feared dead after a helicopter carrying military cargo was shot down on Tuesday in eastern Ukraine. This effectively breaks a weeklong ceasefire declared by Ukraine's president last Friday. However, people living in eastern Ukraine say there never was a ceasefire, they've been under fire for days. CCTV's Stephanie Freid in Kiev with more.


A Ukrainian helicopter with a three-man crew, carrying, in all nine people on board, was reportedly shot down by Russian- backed rebels near the town of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, every one onboard is feared dead. This comes ten days after rebels shot down a Ukraine military transport plane killing all 49onboard.

Fierce fighting between rebels and Ukraine’s army has gripped the Eastern part of the country since April. In an effort to stop the conflict, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko unilaterally declared a seven-day ceasefire last Friday – a declaration anti-government militia agreed to abide by.

But, according to those living in the region, the ceasefire never truly took effect.

Olga, Pryvillya resident: “What ceasefire are you talking about If we were bombed yesterday and being bombed today Today it was at 6 a.m. Yesterday it was at 11p.m. People died at the mine. The coal mine was bombed.”

Earlier in the day, reports also surfaced of eastern militia attacking Ukrainian border checkpoints. The latest tension comes just days before Ukraine’s president is set to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union, a move that could further inflame the situation in the East.

In response to the ceasefire announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the ceasefire isn’t enough it must be accompanied by talks between Kiev and eastern militia leaders.