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| Ukraine army helicopter shot down near Sloviansk | Ukraine army helicopter shot down near Sloviansk |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have shot down a military helicopter near Sloviansk, killing 14 people, the country's outgoing president says. | Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have shot down a military helicopter near Sloviansk, killing 14 people, the country's outgoing president says. |
| Olexander Turchynov said the rebels used a Russian-made anti-aircraft system, and a senior general was among the dead. | Olexander Turchynov said the rebels used a Russian-made anti-aircraft system, and a senior general was among the dead. |
| The town of Sloviansk has seen fierce fighting between separatists and government forces in recent weeks. | The town of Sloviansk has seen fierce fighting between separatists and government forces in recent weeks. |
| President-elect Petro Poroshenko has vowed to tackle "bandits" in the east. | President-elect Petro Poroshenko has vowed to tackle "bandits" in the east. |
| The helicopter was hit during heavy fighting between Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, reportedly after it had dropped off troops at a military base. | The helicopter was hit during heavy fighting between Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, reportedly after it had dropped off troops at a military base. |
| Mark Lowen, BBC News, Donetsk | |
| This is a significant blow for the Ukrainian military and the government in Kiev as it pursues what it calls its "anti-terror operation" in the east. Sloviansk has long been the epicentre of the heaviest fighting here, a town taken by the rebels early in this uprising. | |
| Two other Ukrainian helicopters were downed there at the start of May: a reminder that Kiev is not simply facing an amateur group of fighters here. | |
| This has been a week in which the conflict in eastern Ukraine has escalated. After Kiev launched an air-and-ground assault on separatist groups at Donetsk airport to retake control, the rebels have vowed to regroup. | |
| They hold patches of land and are clearly equipped with significant weapons. When Ukraine's new President-elect, Petro Poroshenko, vows to crush what he calls the "terrorists" within "a few hours, rather than a few months", this latest loss of life illustrates the immense challenge he faces. | |
| President Turchynov said the 14 dead included Gen Serhiy Kulchytskiy, head of combat and special training for Ukraine's National Guard. | President Turchynov said the 14 dead included Gen Serhiy Kulchytskiy, head of combat and special training for Ukraine's National Guard. |
| It is one of the worst losses of life for government forces in the conflict so far. Last week at least 14 soldiers died in a rebel attack on an army checkpoint near Donetsk, some 130km (80 miles) from Sloviansk. | It is one of the worst losses of life for government forces in the conflict so far. Last week at least 14 soldiers died in a rebel attack on an army checkpoint near Donetsk, some 130km (80 miles) from Sloviansk. |
| Earlier this month the separatists shot down two army helicopters, also near Sloviansk, killing a pilot and another serviceman. | Earlier this month the separatists shot down two army helicopters, also near Sloviansk, killing a pilot and another serviceman. |
| Missing monitors | Missing monitors |
| Mr Poroshenko, a confectionery magnate, won 54.7% of the vote in last Sunday's presidential election, according to final results announced on Thursday, | Mr Poroshenko, a confectionery magnate, won 54.7% of the vote in last Sunday's presidential election, according to final results announced on Thursday, |
| After the poll, he called the separatists "terrorists" intent on maintaining a "bandit state". He vowed to tackle them "in hours", not months. | After the poll, he called the separatists "terrorists" intent on maintaining a "bandit state". He vowed to tackle them "in hours", not months. |
| Gen Serhiy Kulchytskiy | |
| The conflict has intensified in recent days. The rebels say they lost up to 100 fighters when they tried to seize Donetsk airport on Monday. | The conflict has intensified in recent days. The rebels say they lost up to 100 fighters when they tried to seize Donetsk airport on Monday. |
| On the same day, pro-Russia militiamen seized four international monitors in Sloviansk. | |
| The four - a Dane, an Estonian, a Turk and a Swiss national - are members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). | The four - a Dane, an Estonian, a Turk and a Swiss national - are members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). |
| The self-proclaimed mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, told Russia's Interfax news agency they were safe and well and could be released soon. | The self-proclaimed mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, told Russia's Interfax news agency they were safe and well and could be released soon. |
| The OSCE has said it does not know the monitors' whereabouts, but Mr Ponomaryov told another Russian news agency they were being held in the village of Makeyevka. | The OSCE has said it does not know the monitors' whereabouts, but Mr Ponomaryov told another Russian news agency they were being held in the village of Makeyevka. |
| Pro-Russian separatists in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after referendums on 11 May, which were not recognised by Kiev or its Western allies. | Pro-Russian separatists in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after referendums on 11 May, which were not recognised by Kiev or its Western allies. |
| The separatists took their cue from a disputed referendum in Crimea, which led to Russia's annexation of the southern peninsula. | The separatists took their cue from a disputed referendum in Crimea, which led to Russia's annexation of the southern peninsula. |
| Ukraine's deadliest clashes | |
| 24 April: Ukraine military kills five rebels in assault on Sloviansk | |
| 2 May: More than 40 people killed in burning building after street fighting in Odessa | |
| 9 May: 20 pro-Russian activists and Ukrainian security officer killed in Mariupol | |
| 13 May: Seven Ukrainian soldiers killed in ambush between Sloviansk and Kramatorsk | |
| 22 May: Rebel attack on checkpoint in Volnovakha leaves at least 14 soldiers dead | |
| 27 May: At least 40 rebels killed in "anti-terrorist operation" against separatists holding Donetsk airport | |
| 29 May: Ukrainian military helicopter shot down near Sloviansk, killing 14 |