A Mil Mi-8 multipurpose helicopter believe to belong to the Border Guard Service has crashed in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya.
A spokesman for local emergency services said: “According to preliminary information, up to eight people were killed in the incident.
“The information on casualties is being verified.”
Russian media reports at least nine people are believed to have been on board the helicopter when it crashed.
“Indeed, a helicopter has crashed in the south of Chechnya,” a law enforcement officer told Russia’s Interfax news agency, which reports five people were killed in the incident.
Another source told the agency that all nine people on board are feared dead.
Chechnya has been the scene of an Islamist insurgency, with sporadic clashes between rebels and security forces. The violence has though subsided in the past few years.
More to follow…
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