The United States has assured that Ukrainian Interior Minister Denis Monastirski, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, defended the will of the Ukrainian people in the context of the war in the country.
«Monastirski and his team were deeply involved in preserving Ukraine’s democracy, both in its defense against Russian aggression and in the vital work of reforms to strengthen Ukraine’s institutions during this war and in the future,» U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have stressed in a statement sent by the White House.
They called Monastirski a «reformer» and a «patriot». «Our hearts also go out to the dozens of civilians who were killed or injured, including children and their families,» they added.
For his part, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed «deep sadness and condolences» for a tragedy that the White House has called «heartbreaking,» CNN reported.
«Some of them left young children. They have been heroic in their efforts in defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression. We stand with our friends to mourn their loss and (…) help Ukraine defend itself against this aggression,» he said.
The helicopter crashed for unknown reasons near a kindergarten in the Ukrainian town of Brovary, causing casualties also among those on the ground. The Government has opened an investigation and the Prosecutor’s Office has assured that it does not rule out any hypothesis.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)