Helicopter crashes near kindergarten in Ukraine: At least 18 dead, including interior minister

Including 18 people Three children and the Minister of Interior of Ukraine, Denis MonastyrskyA helicopter was killed in a helicopter crash near a kindergarten on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities said Wednesday.

“A total of 16 people have died so far.”, initially announced as the head of the National Police. Igor Klimenko. The dead included several senior officials Interior Minister Denis Monastirsky.

Later, at 10:30 a.m. local time, regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba updated the statistic with a statement on Telegram: “Tragedy in Brovary (east of Kyiv). The number of victims increased. As of 10:30 local time (08030 GMT), 18 people, including 3 children, had died.

“This morning, January 18, A Emergency service helicopter Accident at Brovary. As a result of the plane crash, the heads of the Ministry of Interior died: the Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State,” he added.

Monastirski, 42, a father of two, was appointed interior minister in 2021.

Nine of the dead were in the helicopter, and 22 others were injured, including 10 children.

“At the time of the tragedy, there were children and company employees in the nursery. All are evacuated at this time. There are victims,” ​​said the head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration. Oleksiy KulebaIn his Telegram account, quoted ukrinform.

“Information about the victims and the circumstances” of the crash is “being prepared,” Kuleba said.

In a video that has gone viral, screams can be heard from the charred area.

The site of the accident is located in Brovary town 20 kilometers northeast of Kiev.

Russian and Ukrainian forces fought for control of Brovary in the early stages of the invasion of Moscow until Russian troops retreated in early April.

This incident occurred after the tragedy that led to the death 45 peopleincluding six children Impact of a Russian missile on a residential building Last weekend in the eastern city of Dnipro.

News in development…