Four men suspected of shooting from man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) at Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopters near Sloviansk were detained on Friday as part of an anti-terrorist operation, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported.
“Four people who tentatively fired from MANPADS at Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopters were detained at the checkpoint of separatists near Sloviansk as part of the anti-terrorist operation,” the defense minister’s adviser, Yuriy Povkh, told the 112 television channel.
He said that respective security agencies were currently conducting the necessary measures with the detainees, in accordance with applicable law.
As for the kidnapped pilot, Povkh said, the saboteurs managed to capture one of the wounded pilots before the arrival of a special police unit.
“They were actually waiting at the scene of the emergency landing of the helicopter. The location of the officer has now been established, and as far as we are informed, he is undergoing surgery in a medical institution,” he added.
As reported, two servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed and several others were injured when two Mi-24 helicopters came under fire outside of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine. In addition, gunmen in Sloviansk opened fire on a State Emergencies Service helicopter that arrived at the scene with a team of doctors to provide assistance and evacuation. One of the doctors was wounded.
