TOP UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS AND THREE CHILDREN KILLED IN KYIV HELICOPTER CRASH

Wed 18 January 2023:

A helicopter crash outside of Kiev claimed the lives of 18 individuals, including three children. Among those dead were the interior minister of Ukraine Denys Monastyrskyy, his deputy, and another official. 22 people, including 10 kids, have been admitted to the hospital.

Who was Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyy?

Eighteen people, including Ukraine’s interior minister and other senior ministry officials, were killed when a helicopter crashed near a nursery outside Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.

Who was Denys Monastyrskyy?

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi was appointed under Zelenskyy in 2021 and was a prominent cabinet figure.
Monastyrsky, responsible for the police and security inside Ukraine, is the most senior Ukrainian official to have died since the war began.
He was in his early forties and studied law before entering politics.
He is survived by two children.

Monastyrskyy’s deputy Yevhen Yenin.

State secretary Yurii Lubkovich.

Rescue operation underway in Brovary: Ukrainian official

On Telegram, The head of Kyiv’s regional military administration, Oleksiy Kuleba, said a rescue operation is currently underway at the site of the helicopter crash in Brovary.

He wrote, “In Brovary, a rescue operation is underway at the scene of the tragedy. Debris analysis is underway.”

“Children from the kindergarten are in another educational institution, and the relevant services work with them. The circumstances of the disaster are currently being investigated,” he added.

Kyiv helicopter crash kills Ukrainian officials, children

Ukrainian interior minister #DenysMonastyrsky Monastyrskyy’s deputy Yevhen Yenin and state secretary Yurii Lubkovich – were among the 18 victims of a helicopter crash near a nursery outside the capital, Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/3LPs3UlC3G

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 18, 2023

Helicopter crash is a ‘terrible tragedy’, says Zelenskyy

On Telegram, Ukrainian president Zelenskyy says the helicopter crash in Brovary is a “terrible tragedy.”

He wrote, “A terrible tragedy happened today in Brovary, Kyiv region. A helicopter of the State Emergency Service crashed, a fire broke out at the crash site.”

Zelenskyy said that the death toll has reached 15, with 25 people injured, including 10 children, but the exact number of victims is still being established as rescue workers are at the site.

“Among them are Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denys Monastyrskyy, his first deputy Yevhen Yenin, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yuri Lubkovych, their assistants and the helicopter crew,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that he has asked Ukraine’s security service and the national police to investigate what happened to the helicopter.

“Denys, Yevhen, Yuri, the team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs… true patriots of Ukraine. May they rest in peace! May all those whose lives were taken this black morning rest in peace,” Zelenskyy said.

🇺🇦 Kyiv helicopter crash kills Ukrainian officials, children

Ukrainian interior minister #denysmonastyrskiy Monastyrskyy’s deputy Yevhen Yenin and state secretary Yurii Lubkovich – were among the 18 victims of a helicopter crash near a nursery outside the capital, Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/vO19YuDAlC

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) January 18, 2023

Brovary crash that killed Ukrainian officials ‘suspicious’: Analyst

Poor visibility in Brovary may have been a factor behind the crash of the helicopter that killed at least 16 people, Peter Zalmayev has told Al Jazeera.

However, the incident was “very suspicious, I would not rule out a possible terrorist act by the Russian Federation,” the analyst at the Eurasia Democracy Initiative said.

Helicopter pilots know the area they fly in and the potential obstacles regardless of weather conditions, according to Zalmayev. The Ukrainian government was also avoiding commenting on the nature of the mission that required the presence of senior interior ministry officials aboard the helicopter.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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