iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The supposed ceasefire between Ukrainian military forces and pro-Russia separatists looked all but over Tuesday after a helicopter carrying national troops was shot down by rebels near the city of Slovyansk, killing nine on board.
The truce first called by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will likely end before its Friday deadline with the new leader ordering retaliation for any more attacks against his forces.
Meanwhile, two more Ukrainian soldiers were killed by shelling near Slovyansk where separatists hold sway.
Earlier in the week, the separatists appeared to agree to the ceasefire although the insurgents are not a united force with some groups acting independently from others.
As Ukraine mulls its next move in the east to prevent the country from completely fracturing, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued further support for the temporary armistice and in a gesture of apparent goodwill, asked his parliament to revoke his power to order an invasion of Ukraine.
Putin’s decision was not totally magnanimous as he is also looking for ways to build a natural gas pipeline that would circumvent Ukraine. Russia’s biggest gas company has cut off supplies to Ukraine for failing to pay a $2 billion debt.
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