Nine people are feared dead after rebels shot down a Ukrainian army helicopter near the town of Slaviansk, a government forces spokesman said.

Dmytro Tymchuk, a military analyst, said the helicopter had been brought down by a missile fired from a shoulder-held launcher.

He confirmed nine people had been killed, according to preliminary information.

The incident took place just hours after pro-Russian separatists announced a ceasefire until June 27th.

That matched a week-long truce by government forces which has been ordered by President Petro Poroshenko.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the weeklong cease-fire should be extended and accompanied by talks between the government and the rebels.

During a trip to Vienna, Mr. Putin said that the seven-day cease-fire was not enough.

Earlier, Mr. Putin asked politicians to revoke a resolution allowing him to invade Ukraine in a shock turnabout that Kiev hailed as his "first practical step" towards helping defuse the crisis.

The surprise reversal from the Kremlin comes amid the threat of tougher Western sanctions against Moscow and could help spur fragile peace initiatives to end fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The town of Slaviansk has been controlled by separatists since April and on May 30 rebels there brought down a military helicopter killing 14 servicemen.