Faellece Denys Monastyrskyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs
The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, confirmed on Wednesday the death of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Denis Monastirski, after a helicopter crashed in the outskirts of the capital, Kiev, and called for «clarifying the circumstances of what happened». (SOURCE: EUROPA PRESS)
Faellece Denys Monastyrskyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs
«Today a terrible tragedy has taken place in Brovary,» said the president, who put the number of dead at 15, now that figure is already 18, including three children. «The pain is unspeakable. The helicopter fell on the grounds of a kindergarten,» he said, before stressing that «the exact number of victims of the tragedy is being clarified».
Faellece Denys Monastyrskyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs
He said that among the dead are Monastirski, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Yevhen Tenin, Secretary of State for Internal Affairs Yuri Lubkovich, his assistants and the crew members of the aircraft. «I have ordered the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the National Police and other authorized agencies, to determine the circumstances of what happened,» he stressed.
Faellece Denys Monastyrskyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs
Zelenski, who described the deceased members of the Interior Ministry leadership as «true patriots,» conveyed his condolences to the families and friends of the victims. «May they rest in peace. May all whose lives were taken on this black morning rest in peace,» he remarked.
Faellece Denys Monastyrskyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs
For his part, deputy advisor to the Ukrainian presidency Kirilo Timoshenko stressed that the Interior Ministry leadership was traveling to a «hot zone» in the country, Ukrinform Ukrainian news agency reported. «The purpose (of the flight) was to carry out work in a hot zone of the country. The interior minister was heading there,» he stressed, without giving further details.
Faellece Denys Monastyrskyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs
Shortly before, Ukraine’s chief prosecutor, Andrei Kostin, had stated that «for now all options are being considered» in the incident and added that «the preliminary investigation will be in the hands of SBU investigators.» «The matter is under my personal control,» he stressed. For his part, the governor of the Kiev region, Oleksiy Kuleba, has raised the death toll to 18, including three children, and put the number of injured at 29, including 15 minors, according to a brief message posted on his Telegram account.
