Some 18 people, including Ukraine’s Interior Minister and several minors, were killed Wednesday when a helicopter crashed next to a day care center in eastern Kyiv.
According to authorities, nine people were killed when the helicopter went down near the suburb of Brovary, and nine others died on the ground, including three children.
Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, 42, he was traveling in the helicopter along with his first deputy minister and secretary of state.
Monastyrsky is the highest-profile casualty to be killed in Ukraine since the country’s war began following Russia’s invasion in early 2022.
The deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said the minister was heading to a “hot spot” of the war when the helicopter crashed.
There are no indications that it could be anything more than an accident, although some witnesses blamed the war for the disaster.
“It was very foggy and there was no electricity, and when there is no electricity there are no lights in the buildings,” local resident Volodymyr told the BBC.
The 42-year-old interior minister was a leading member of President Volodymy Zelensky’s cabinet.
He had played a key role in updating the public on the casualties caused by Russian missile attacks since Ukraine was invaded in February 2022.
Reports in Ukraine indicate that aboard the helicopter were also six ministry officials and three crew members.
First Deputy Minister Yevhen Jenin died along with State Secretary Yurii Lubkovich, whose task was to organize the work of the ministry.
Before moving to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Jenin was a representative of the Ukrainian government abroad. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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