To add insult to injury, the Mi-26 crash commission was attacked in Grozny on 21 August. The convoy accompanying the high-ranking officials hit a unidentified explosive device, even though the convoy included specialized vehicles for discovering and eliminating radio-controlled explosive devices. However, no servicemen were injured.
Meanwhile, in the shadow of the 19 August crash the Combined Federal Force headquarters restricted personnel transport to only MI-8 Hips escorted by MI-24 Hind attack helicopters. The MI-26 transport helicopters would not used to carry troops.
The toll from the MI-26 crash stands at 116 soldiers dead and 31 injured. - Adam Geibel