Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky was among the 18 people who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday morning near a kindergarten in the Kyiv region, the Ukrainian presidency announced.
Ukraine's National Police confirmed the death toll had risen to 18, including three children. The interior minister, his first deputy and another senior official on board the aircraft were also killed, the statement said.
Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, 42, his first deputy Yevgeny Yenin, 42, and another senior ministry official on board the aircraft among the victims. In addition, 22 people, including ten children, were hospitalised, according to the same source.
"Tragedy in Brovary. The number of victims increased. As of 10.30am — 18 dead, including three children. It is known about 29 wounded, including 15 children. All necessary assistance is provided to the victims. All emergency services are on site," Regional Governor Oleksiy Kouleba said in a statement.
Denys Monastyrsky, killed in a helicopter crash 18 January 2023. Credit: Belga
"The purpose of the flight was to go to one of the hot spots in our country where the fighting is going on. The interior minister was going there," Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the presidential office, told Ukrainian television.
The death of Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky is "a great loss", Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Chmygal said. "The tragedy in Brovary...is a great loss for the government and the whole state," he said on Telegram, calling for the "immediate creation of a special group for a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy.
The helicopter crashed around 9:30am local time in the city of Brovary, an eastern suburb of Kyiv. The incident happened "near a kindergarten and a residential building…There are victims,” Deputy-Head of the Presidential Administration Kyrylo Tymoshenko said shortly after the crash on Telegram.
"In the city of Brovary, an eastern suburb of Kyiv, a helicopter crashed near a kindergarten and a residential building…There are victims,” Deputy-Head of the Presidential Administration Kyrylo Tymoshenko said shortly after the crash on Telegram.
“Ambulances, police and firefighters are working on the scene of the accident,” he added.
"Information on the victims and circumstances" of the accident is "still being worked out", Regional Governor Oleksiy Kouleba said in a statement.
"At the time of the tragedy, children and employees of the institution were in the kindergarten," Kouleba said. "At this stage, everyone has been evacuated," he added.
