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The helicopter is believed to have struck the nursery before coming down next to a residential building.
At least 16 people, including Ukraine’s Interior Minister and several minors, were killed Wednesday when a helicopter crashed next to a daycare center in eastern Kyiv.
According to what the authorities pointed out, nine people died when the helicopter went down near the suburb of Brovary, and another seven died on the ground, including three children.
It was reported that 30 people were taken to the hospital, including 12 children.
Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, 42, was traveling in the helicopter together with his first vice minister and with his 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.
But Kharkiv police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko said the officers were heading to that city in eastern Ukraine.
In a Facebook post, Tymoshko said: “Today I was going to meet them and shake hands… I wasn’t just going to see leaders, but to friends whom I respected and hoped to see.
“Words fail me, I can’t believe this!” she added.
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.
image source, GETTY / UKRAINE MFA
The Minister of the Interior, Denys Monastyrsky, and the Prime Minister, Yevhen Yenin.
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.
The story of the twill originate
“There was a big flash,” said a woman who gave her name as a kindergarten teacher.
“Before that, there was the sound of something flying in the air, and we all fell silent. Then after the flash, we heard an explosion. We dropped to the ground and then quickly evacuated to a shelter,” he said.
image source, Archyde.com
Debris from the helicopter could be seen next to a residential building in Brovary.
After the accident, a fire broke out near the kindergarten and the children and staff were moved outside of the building.
The remains of the helicopter could be seen in front of a burning building.
National police chief Ihor Klymenko wrote on Facebook that the helicopter belonged to Ukraine’s state emergency service, and other officials said it appeared to be a French Eurocopter Super Puma.
Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said the officials on the helicopter were friends and had worked to strengthen Ukraine.
“We will always remember them. Their families will be cared for,” he wrote on Facebook.
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