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Ukraine army helicopter exploded at Kramatorsk airfield

360026_Kramatorsk-helicopter

A Ukrainian military helicopter has exploded at an airfield near the eastern city of Kramatorsk after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry says.

“The military helicopter Mi-8 has exploded today, April 25, at the airport in Kramatorsk (Donetsk region). According to preliminary reports, the blast occurred as a result of fire from a grenade launcher,” the ministry said in a statement.

Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) General Vasyl Krutov also told Interfax news agency that the incident happened when a sniper bullet hit the fuel tank of the transport aircraft on the ground.

The pilot managed to escape but sustained injuries, he added.

Meanwhile, seven people have been injured early on Friday in a blast at a roadblock set up by pro-Kiev militias in the southeastern port city of Odessa.

Local police say unknown men had thrown a grenade at the checkpoint there.

The latest developments come as Ukraine’s acting government re-launched its military operation in the eastern regions of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Donetsk and Lugansk after it was suspended during the Easter holiday.

On Thursday, Ukrainian troops entered the eastern city of Slavyansk, killing at least five pro-Russian protesters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced Kiev’s operations in the eastern part of the country as a “bloody crime,” saying the government is waging a war on its own people.

Tensions between Moscow and neighboring Ukraine heightened after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and became part of Russia following a referendum on March 16, in which almost 97 percent of the participants voted for rejoining the Russian Federation, with a turnout of over 83 percent.

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