A military helicopter has been shot down in eastern Ukraine, killing at least 10 people.<br /><br />The incident is said to have occurred near Slovyansk, with some reports putting the loss of life at 14. A Ukrainian general was allegedly among the dead.<br /><br />Kyiv is blaming pro Russian rebels for the attack, with the country’s outgoing President claiming they used a Russian-made anti-aircraft system.<br /><br />The helicopter was hit during heavy fighting as Ukrainian troops launched fresh operations in the area. <br /><br />It has also emerged that four international observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe are being held captive by pro-Russian militiamen. According to Russian media reports, those being detained could soon be released. <br /><br />Since winning the national vote, President-elect Petro Poroshenko has vowed to increase efforts to reassert control in the country’s troubled east.<br /><br />Shelling has been reported in the town of Slovyansk, injuring at least 10 people. Civilians are now said to be fleeing the area.<br /><br />On Monday rebels claimed they lost 100 lives after an attempt to seize Donetsk airport was repulsed by government forces.
