National Guard says 12 Ukrainian security officers killed in helicopter shot down near Sloviansk

Militants have shot down a helicopter of the National Guard of Ukraine near the town of Sloviansk; 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 website of the National Guard reported. The National Guard also confirmed that among those killed was General Major Serhiy Kulchytsky, who led the combat training department of the National Guard. Earlier reports said 15 people, including General Kulchytsky, were killed in the crash.

Ukrainian servicemen neutralize group of gunmen who brought down Mi-8 helicopter

Later, the National Guard of Ukraine reported that a group of gunmen who brought down a Ukrainian helicopter outside Sloviansk, eastern Ukraine, has been eliminated during the counter-terrorism operation.

"In response to the actions by terrorists, the forces of the operation carried out artillery bombardment and air strike of the territory the fire was coming from. As the result, a group of criminals involved in the shooting, was destroyed," the National Guard said in a statement.