About the downed helicopter | Colonel Cassad
July 8, 2016, the Russian military pilots-instructors Rafaqat Khabibulin and Evgeny Dolgin overflew Syrian Mi-25 (export version of the Mi-24) with ammunition in HOMS province. In this period of time East Palmyra a large group of DAESH militants attacked the positions of Syrian troops and broke through the defense, were advancing rapidly deep into the region, threatening the capture of the dominating heights, — stated in the message of military Department.— Having spent ammunition, when turning in the opposite direction, by ground fire, the helicopter was shot down by terrorists and crashed in an area controlled by the Syrian government army. The crew of the helicopter died.