Ukraine Army Helicopter Shot Down Near Sloviansk

Olexander Turchnov said the rebels used q Russian made anti aircraft system , and an Army  General was among the dead

The town od Sloviansk has seen fierce fighting between separatists and government  forces in recent weeks

President  Petro Poroshenko has vowed to takel "bandits" , Meanwhile , Russia has reiterated calls for Ukraine to stop its military campaign against the Pro Moscow rebels and "start real national dialogue"

In a statement , the Russians foreign ministry also urged the United States and Europeann Union "to use all of their influence on Kiev to stop Ukraine's slide into national catastrophe"

The helicopter was hit during heavy fighting between Sloviansk and Kramatorsk , after it had dropped off troops at a military base

President Turchynov said the 14 dead men included Major Gen. Serhly Kulchytsky , head of a combat and special forces training for Ukraine's national guard

It is one of the worst losses of life for government forces in the conflict last week at least 14 soldiers died in a rebel attack on an Army checkpoint near Donesk 80 miles (130km) from Sloviansk

Earlier this month separatists shot down two Army helicopters , also near Sloviansk , killing the pilot and another serviceman , the conflict has intensified in recent days , the rebels say they lost up to 100 fighters when they tried to seize Donetsk airport on Monday

Alexander Borodai , the separatist leader of the self proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic , said  33 Russian nationals had been among those killed in the airport clashes , Mr. Borodai , himself a Russian citizen , added  that their bodies  had been identified and would be taken to Russia , the news has fuelled accusations that Russia plays a larger part in the conflict then it currently admits