KHANKALA. Feb 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Chechen rebels fired at army aviation helicopters carrying out missions near the Dargo and Bilgat-Irzi villages on Wednesday and inflicted minor damages on the aircraft, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency.
According to the spokesman, the helicopters dispersed two rebel group comprising over 20 people near the Dargo, Bilgat- Irzi, Ylakhoi-Mokhk, Turti-Khutor and Aleroi villages. They eliminated two winter bases and a vehicle with rebels.
The army aviation stepped up activities on Wednesday, the spokesman said. In the morning alone, MI-24 Hind and MI-8 Hip helicopters spent some 50 hours in the air to provide support to units involved in special operations in southeastern Chechnya.
Transport helicopters flew over 20 sorties airlifting some 100 people and four tonnes of cargo.