Chechen Rebels Shoot Down Russian Chopper, 4 Dead

Reuters ^ | October 29, 2002 09:34 AM ET | Reuters

[Destro]

Chechen Rebels Shoot Down Russian Chopper, 4 Dead

October 29, 2002 09:34 AM ET

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Separatist guerrillas shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter Tuesday near Moscow's main military base in Chechnya just outside the capital Grozny, killing four servicemen, officials said.

Interfax news agency quoted general Stanislav Kavun, deputy commander of interior ministry troops, as saying the helicopter was downed as it prepared to land near the Khankala base.

"Preliminary data show that the helicopter was shot down as it was about to land. Four people -- the crew and passengers -- died," Kavun said.

An emergencies ministry spokesman in Moscow told Reuters that the craft was attacked with a shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile.

The attack came only days after 117 people died in the worst hostage drama in Russia's history, when armed Chechen rebels seized a Moscow theater and held some 800 hostages for nearly three days.

Interfax quoted eyewitnesses as saying that after it was hit, the helicopter spun for some time before crashing into the ground and exploding.

The crashed Mi-8 was the fourth helicopter to come down under rebel fire in Chechnya in the last three months. Mi-8s, the workhorses of Russia's helicopter fleet, are usually used as battle gunships in Chechnya and are often targeted by rebels.

In the worst single-day disaster to hit Russia's campaign in the rebel region, a Mi-26 transport helicopter was shot down near Chechnya in August with the loss of 124 lives.

[Eastbound]

Islam Strikes Again, using Chechen rebels.

[My Favorite Headache]

These scumbags are just lookin for it. Putin is going to lay down the glow soon.

[A_perfect_lady]

Meanwhile, our university professors claim that without Russian approval, the US has no moral authority to attack Iraq. The US only acts in "selfish" self-interest, you know, unlike the noble French, Russians, and Chinese, who in the 20th century have freed... oh, surely they've freed someone somewhere to deserve such unadulterated respect. (Of course, they'll only have our Leftists respect if they veto Bush's Iraq proposal. If they approve it they will have "capitulated" to our "pressure".)

[johniegrad]

Chechen Rebels Terrorists Shoot Down Russian Chopper, 4 Dead

[Dubya]

[sheik yerbouty]

Putin should smite the jihadists wherever he might find them.

[Destro]

The US should not have created the UN if it does not want to play by the UN's rule. Russia (when it was the USSR) never wanted a UN. Russia is not saying no to Bush's Iraq agenda, just that they want a say in it, as is their right as a security council member.

[Mixer]

I guess the reports that they wanted to talk peace was the same as the ones that said Islam is the religion of peace.

[Destro]

PS: I want out of the UN. While a member I feel honor bound to follow its rules, but I don't like their rules, so I want out.

Unlike what Clinton would do, Bush an honorable man, is playing by the UN rules as he is duty bound to by treaty approved by the senate when they approved of the US memebership to the UN.

[sheik yerbouty]

The Sunna the better!

[MinorityRepublican]

Russia, Israel, India, and America are all fighting the same war.

[Destro]

It is going to get worse before it gets better.

Hell on earth is comming to the jihad.

Russian military in Chechnya thirsting for revenge: Moskovskiy Komsomolets believes the time for talks is over. It ponders President Vladimir Putin's comment that Russia "will respond with measures commensurate to the threats". Experts the newspaper consulted weren't certain but thought "this might mean the pre-emptive use of weapons of mass destruction". In other words, troops in Chechnya will now "have the chance to use military hardware and weaponry previously regarded as unsuitable for local conflicts at home and intended only for warfare on a global scale".

[evad]

These scumbags are just lookin for it. Putin is going to lay down the glow soon.

Putin is NOT a kid's gloves type of guy...
Get ready for a lot of dead Chechens.
You can count on it.

[Delbert]

These Isalmists are not very intelligent....Putin is getting ready to bring the hammer down. I believe Russia will come around regarding U.S. policy towards Iraq in exchange for a free hand in dealing with Islamic Chechen scum.

[evad]

Btw, howcome these guys have been shooting down helicopters, but the Palestinians haven't been able to bag any IDF choppers yet? What's the secret?

An excellent observation and question.
Do you have a theory?