The Mi-8AMT helicopter from the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) went down yesterday near the northern oil town of Bentiu, killing three Russian crew members and injuring a fourth.
The council said in a unanimous statement put forward by Russia that it condemned the downing and that "this attack constituted a grave violation" that "jeopardized UNMISS operations."
The 15-member council urged UNMISS and the South Sudan government to conduct a "swift, thorough and transparent investigation" and said "those responsible must be held accountable."
Rebel spokesman Mabior Garang dismissed the claim as "malicious allegations."
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"The area in which the plane (helicopter) was reportedly shot down is government-held territory, if indeed the aircraft was shot down," Garang said.
Bentiu has been badly damaged in heavy fighting between government and rebel forces that was sparked by a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his sacked vice president Riek Machar.
A UN team was investigating the wreckage of the helicopter on today.