A Russian military helicopter has been shot down in Syria. “This is probably a technical failure”, Peskov said at the time.
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A statement from the Kremlin said the Mi-8 chopper went down while delivering aid in Aleppo, where rebels have been fighting the Syrian government.
Russia’s defense ministry announced the downing of the helicopter, which it said was carrying three crew and two officers.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the helicopter had come down along the administrative border between Idlib province in the northwest and neighbouring Aleppo.
The United Nations has called for a separate 48-hour ceasefire in Aleppo on humanitarian grounds to allow much-needed aid into the area, where malnutrition is rampant and medical supplies are dwindling.
Pro-government forces on the ground are being supported by heavy air strikes in the area.
A Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter was shot down in Syria’s Idlib province on Monday, killing 5 crew members onboard.
Russia’s military has since September last year been supporting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s five-year-old civil war. It estimates that between 200,000 and 300,000 people remain trapped in the besieged eastern part of Aleppo.
“Thus, the terrorists executed four people attempting to exit through the humanitarian corridors yesterday in the eastern part of Aleppo”, he said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed in a statement later in the day that all those on board are dead. The bodies of the pilots were recovered and brought back to Russian Hymeimim air base.
“From what we know from information provided by the Defense Ministry, all those who were on the helicopter died”.
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And in nearby Idlib province, a helicopter gunship was shot down. It’s universality and high-flying capabilities make it a popular Russian-made helicopter, claims the manufacturer. The Syrian government has controlled Aleppo since 2014, but because it is one of the largest cities, rebel forces have been trying to gain control of it, and on Sunday, the rebels launched an attack to try to take control of the city. The Syrian military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, did not elaborate.
