Russian military chopper shot down in Syria: ministry

A Russian military helicopter with five people on board was shot down today over the Syrian province of Idlib, the Russian defence ministry said.

"A Russian Mi-8 military transport helicopter was shot down from the ground after delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo," the defence ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.

"Three crew members and two officers... Were on board," it said, indicating that their fate was unclear.