Ukrainian Interior Minister Killed in Helicopter Crash Near Kyiv

A portion of the top brass of Ukraine’s interior ministry were killed in a helicopter crash outside of Kyiv on Thursday, January 19 (Philippine Standard Time), according to Ukrainian officials.

Reports added that 14 people were recovered at the crash site in the city of Brovary, including all nine individuals on board the helicopter.

Moreover, 25 people are reported having injuries, including 11 children, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian National Police confirmed soon after that among the dead are Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky, First Deputy Minister Yevheniy Yenin, and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovychis.

They are thought to be the most senior Ukrainian government officials to die since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The officials were headed to the frontlines when the incident happened.

Meanwhile, authorities say that the cause of the crash is yet to be determined, with officials not giving any hint of Russian involvement in the incident.

This comes as Ukraine faces mounting pressure from Russia as they have made gains to control the salt mining town of Soledar, and are currently locked in a heated battle in the eastern part of the city of Bahkmut in the Donbas.

The crash also comes at a time when Kyiv is pleading for more Western weapons, this time Western-made tanks to counter Russian advances in the field.

Zelenskyy said that the deaths are “a truly great loss for the state.”

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Services said on their Facebook page that “several versions of the tragedy are being considered,” which include “Violation of flight rule, technical malfunction of the helicopter (and) deliberate actions to destroy the helicopter.” (GFB)