ASTANA (Reuters) -- A border-guard helicopter has crashed in the mountains of southern Kazakhstan, killing 10 of 13 servicemen on board, Russia's Interfax and RIA news agencies reported, citing Emergency Situations Ministry sources.
"The helicopter had full fuel tanks. We were lucky to be able to save three," RIA quoted a rescue team source as saying.
Kazakhstan's border-guard service confirmed the crash, but did not say how many soldiers had died.
It said the border guards had been alerted by colleagues from Uzbekistan about six potential trespassers and were using a Mi-8 helicopter to track them down.
"The helicopter had full fuel tanks. We were lucky to be able to save three," RIA quoted a rescue team source as saying.
Kazakhstan's border-guard service confirmed the crash, but did not say how many soldiers had died.
It said the border guards had been alerted by colleagues from Uzbekistan about six potential trespassers and were using a Mi-8 helicopter to track them down.
