Russian helicopter shot down by rebels

A Russian military helicopter was shot down by rebels in Chechnya today, killing nine soldiers, Interfax news agency reported.

The Mi-8 helicopter was shot down by a mobile rocket launcher apparently fired by rebels from a dilapidated five-storey building on the outskirts of the Chechen capital Grozny, said Lt. Boris Podoprigora, deputy commander of the Russian forces, according to Interfax.

ITAR-Tass news agency reported that the helicopter was shot down near Moscow’s main Chechen military base in Khankala.

Podoprigora said that federal troops were currently searching the area for the rebels. Russia’s Defence Ministry did not immediately answer a phone call.

Chechen rebels have shot down several Russian helicopters during the two wars in the region in the past decade, including one packed with troops in August that left at least 119 people dead.

On Tuesday, an Mi-8 helicopter was shot down by a rebel missile, killing all three crew and one passenger aboard.

Russian forces retreated from Chechnya after a 1994-1996 war that left separatists in charge.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to return in 1999 after attacks on a neighbouring region and several deadly apartment bombings were blamed on the rebels.