Death of Interior Minister is a “great loss” for Ukraine

The death of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Denis Monastirski, and two other senior officials in a helicopter crash is a “great loss” for the countryPrime Minister Denis Chmigal declared on Wednesday.

“I have instructed you to immediately create a task force that investigate in detail the circumstances of the tragedy”said Chmigal on Telegram.

According to the Ukrainian presidencythe helicopter in which Monastirski was travelingwhich crashed near the capital kyiv killing 18, was heading to the front.

“The purpose of the flight (was to go) to one of the hot spots in our country where combats are fought”, Ukrainian presidential adviser Kirilo Timoshenko said.

In addition to Monastirski, 42, among the victims are his deputy minister Yevgueni Jenin and another senior official who were on board the device along with six other people, the head of the Ukrainian national police said in a statement.

For his part, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskydescribed as “terrible tragedy” the helicopter crash at a kindergarten near kyiv that left 18 dead, including children and the interior minister.

“Today a terrible tragedy happened in Brovary,” in the kyiv region, Zelensky declared on Telegram. “A SES (State Emergency Services) helicopter crashed and a fire broke out at the crash site. The pain is indescribable,” he added. (YO)