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- BBC News World
January 18, 2023 at 09:07 GMT
Updated 2 hours
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The helicopter is believed to have struck the child’s room before landing next to an apartment building.
At least 17 people – including Ukraine’s interior minister, the other two top officials of that ministry and several minors – died Wednesday when a helicopter crashed near a kindergarten in eastern Kyiv.
According to authorities, the nine people traveling in the helicopter died when it crashed near the suburb of Brovary and the other deaths occurred on the ground, including three children.
It was reported that 30 people were taken to hospital, including 12 children.
Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, 42, was in the helicopter with his first deputy minister and with his foreign minister.
Monastyrsky is the most high-profile victim killed in Ukraine since the country’s war began following the Russian invasion in early 2022.
Deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said the minister was on his way to a “hot spot” of the war when the helicopter went down. Kharkiv police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko later pointed out that the officers were headed to that city in eastern Ukraine.
In a Facebook post, Tymoshko said, “Today I wanted to meet them and shake hands with them… I didn’t just want to see leaders, but to friends I respected and hoped to see.
“I’m at a loss for words, I can’t believe this!” she added.
There is no evidence that it could have been 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 senior member of President Volodymy Zelenskyy’s cabinet.
He had played a key role in informing the public about the casualties of Russian missile attacks since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Image copyrightGETTY/UKRAINE MFA
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Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and First Deputy Minister Yevhen Jenin.
Reports in Ukraine indicate that there were also on board the helicopter six ministry officials and three crew members.
First Deputy Minister Yevhen Jenin died along with Secretary of State Yurii Lubkovich, whose task was to organize the ministry’s work.
Before moving to the Interior Ministry, Jenin was a representative of the Ukrainian government abroad.
The testimony
“There was a big flash,” said a woman posing 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 fell to the ground and were then quickly evacuated to a shelter,” he said.
Image copyrightReuters
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Debris from the helicopter was seen next to an apartment building in Brovary.
After the accident, a fire broke out near the kindergarten and the children and staff were moved outside of the building.
“Parents were running and screaming in panic,” said Lidiya, a local volunteer.
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 Ambulance 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 her. Their families will be taken care of,” he wrote on Facebook.
For his part, President Zelenskyy described them as “true patriots”.
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