President grieves for Mi-8 crash victims

President Viktor Yushchenko offered his condolences to families and relatives of those Ukrainian servicemen, who were killed in Thursday Mi-8 helicopter crash. President's press office reports.

President also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko demanding the Government to take appropriate measures to help the victims of the disaster.

A helicopter belonging to the Ukrainian border guard service has crashed into the Black Sea with 13 people on board.

Twelve have been confirmed dead. One person has been found alive, although he is in a critical condition.

The Mi-8 helicopter was on a flight from Odessa to Zmiyinyy Island.

There were three crew members and 10 passengers on board. The cause of the crash is not known.