OREANDA-NEWS. July 28, 2010. According to information received by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Darfur insurgents yesterday seized a Russian airline UTair helicopter with four crew and five Sudanese passengers.

UTair has been working in Sudan on a contract with the United Nations and the craft was flying for the joint peacekeeping mission by the United Nations and the African Union in Darfur.

According to the information we have, no one was hurt. The helicopter is reportedly undamaged.

Through the Russian Embassy in Khartoum emergency measures are being taken to clarify the situation and secure the release by Sudanese authorities of the Russian citizens being held by rebels.