KIEV, Ukraine, May 29 (UPI) -- A Ukrainian National Guard helicopter was shot down Thursday in eastern Ukraine. 14 military personnel and a Ukrainian general were killed.
Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchynov informed parliament of the attack.
"Recently I received information that the terrorists shot down our helicopter, due to Russian man-portable SAM weapon, with 14 servicemen and General Kulchytsky on board, who were killed."
Gen. Kulchytsky directed the National Guard's combat training department.
The attack occurred near the town of Sloviansk in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Ukraine's National Guard initially reported 12 security officers killed.
According to the initial incident report: "On May 29, at about 1230 near the town of Sloviansk in Donetsk region, the terrorists shot down an Mi-8 helicopter of the National Guard of Ukraine, when the latter unloaded food for the fourth roadblock. As a result, 12 servicemen were killed, six servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine, including the helicopter's crew, and six representatives of Berkut special task force. One serviceman of the National Guard is alive, but in a serious condition."
The National Guard posted a statement to its website Thursday afternoon to announce the attackers had been killed in an anti-terrorist operation.
"In response to the actions by terrorists, the forces of the anti-terrorist operation carried out artillery bombardment and air strike of the territory, from where the fire was coming. As the result, a group of criminals involved in the shooting, was destroyed."
