Including The Minister, Three Officials Of Ukraine's Ministry Of Home Affairs Died In Accident, President Zelensky Ordered Investigation

JAKARTA - Three top officials from the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, including Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, were killed in a helicopter crash in the eastern suburbs of the capital Kyiv on Wednesday morning.

Apart from Denys Monastyrsky, the accident also killed First Deputy Minister Yevhen Yenin and Ministry Secretary Yurij Lubkovich, as reported by BBC January 18

Officials said nine people died when the helicopter crashed on Brovary. While nine others died on the ground, including three children. The local governor said 29 others were injured, including 15 children.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called the crash a terrible tragedy, saying the total number of victims was still being confirmed, saying it had ordered an investigation.

"Until now, three children have died. The pain is inevitable," he said in a statement.

At the scene, debris strewn across a muddy playground and emergency workers milling around the ambulance fleet.

In a yard lying several bodies wearing a blue interior ministry uniform and black boots, can be seen from under the foil blanket that covered them.

National police chief Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the Minister of Home Affairs Denys Monastyrsky was killed along with his first deputy, Yevheniy Yenin, and other ministry officials who flew in helicopters operated by the State Emergency Service.

My friends, statesmen Denys Monastyrskyi, Yevhen Yenin, Yurii Lubkovych, everyone who was on board of that helicopter, were patriots who worked to make Ukraine stronger.We will always remember you. Your families will be cared for.Eternal memory to my friends. pic.twitter.com/SdHfujCUAI

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 18, 2023

Ukrainian officials said it was not clear what caused the helicopter to fall. There was no immediate comment from Russia, which invaded Ukraine last February, and Ukrainian officials did not mention any Russian attacks on the region at the time.

"Unfortunately, the sky does not forgive mistakes, as the pilot said, but it is too early to talk about the cause," Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said, adding that it would take at least a few weeks to investigate the disaster.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said the group was on its way to the "hotspot" of war, when the helicopter crashed.

Ukrainian reports said those on the helicopter included six ministry officials and three crew members.

Minister Monastyrsky (42) is a prominent member of President Volodymy Zelensky's cabinet. He played a key role in telling the public about casualties caused by Russian missile attacks since Ukraine was invaded in February 2022.

Tymoshenko said the work of the Ministry of Home Affairs would not be affected even if three of its main officials died.

Separately, Interior Ministry Advisor Anton Herashchenko said the three men were friends and statesmen who had worked to make Ukraine stronger.

"We will always care about you. We will pay attention to you," he wrote on Facebook.

Photo of the kindergarten in Brovary into which the helicopter crashed.Currently it is reported that 18 people are dead, 3 of them children. 29 wounded, 15 of them children. pic.twitter.com/XbmxuB50oo

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) January 18, 2023