A chopper crash near Kyiv has killed Ukraine's Interior Minister and three children among 18 others. Ukraine's Interior Minister and three children have been reportedly killed among 18 others in a helicopter crash near the capital city of Kyiv on Wednesday. Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, his deputy Yevhen Yenin and State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yurii Lubkovych were among those killed, AP quoted Ihor Klymenko, chief of Ukraine’s National Police, as saying.
This comes at a time when the country is locked in a war with Russia and Monastyrskyi is known to be one of the most senior Ukrainian officials to have died since the start of the war almost a year ago.
Officials had earlier informed media that the said the helicopter crashed near a kindergarten.
There has been no word on whether the crash has any connection with the ongoing war with Russia.
A total of 29 students were injured including 15 children, AP said.
Ukraine first lady Olena Zelenska turned emotional on hearing the news minutes before attending a World Economic Forum session in Davos, Switzerland.
Forum President Borge Brende als requested 15 seconds of silence after opening the session to honor the victims killed in the crash.
Separately, Ukraine reported overnight intense fighting in the country's eastern region, where both sides have suffered significant losses over the past two months in intense trench warfare.
According to the Ukrainian military, Ukrainian forces repelled attacks in the eastern city of Bakhmut and the nearby village of Klishchiivka, reported news agency Reuters. Russia has been focusing on Bakhmut in recent weeks, claiming last week to have captured the northern outskirts mining town of Soledar.
The frontlines have hardened over the past two months, following significant gains made by Ukraine in the second half of 2022. Kyiv says it hopes that new Western weapons, particularly heavy tanks that would give its troops mobility and protection as they push through Russian lines, will enable it to resume an offensive to retake land.
The frontlines have hardened over the past two months, following significant gains made by Ukraine in the second half of 2022. Kyiv said it hopes that new Western weapons, particularly heavy tanks that would give its troops mobility and protection as they push through Russian lines, will enable it to resume an offensive to retake land.