1 Dead in Ukraine Military Helicopter Crash

A Ukrainian military helicopter crashed near the capital Kiev today, killing the pilot and two crew members, the defence ministry said.

The cause of the crash, which took place near the village of Grebinky, around 60 kilometres from Kiev, was unclear.

"The pilot of the helicopter is dead and two members of the crew were injured," the ministry said in a statement.

An investigation was launched into the incident, which comes amid continuing deadly clashes between the army and pro-Russian separatists in the east.

Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said one soldier had been killed and eight injured in the past 24 hours, despite the two sides agreeing a ceasefire in mid-February.

Over 6,000 people have been killed since rebels in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions took up arms against the pro-Western government in Kiev 11 months ago.

The European-brokered truce brought an end to a constant barrage of shelling but the situation is still tense in a handful of flashpoints, where the warring parties continue to trade fire on a daily basis.