Death of Ukrainian Interior Minister: Commission to investigate helicopter crash

As of: 01/18/2023 4:14 p.m

Investigations are underway into the cause of a fatal helicopter crash in Ukraine. The country’s interior minister was also killed in the crash. According to the latest information, 14 people died in total.

After the fatal helicopter crash near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, in which the country’s interior minister was also killed, a commission is to help clarify the cause of the accident. This was announced by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ihnat.

It is still unclear how the helicopter crashed. At the scene of the accident in the Kiev suburb of Brovary, the rescue and clean-up work is still ongoing ARD correspondent Vassili Golod reported on site. Part of the helicopter crashed on the grounds of a kindergarten, part hit in front of a residential building.

There are currently three possible causes on which the ongoing investigations are focused, Golod continued: a possible technical error, a possible error on the part of the pilot or the suspicion of sabotage of the helicopter.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said the intelligence service would also be involved in the investigation to investigate “all possible versions of the helicopter crash”.

Ukrainian interior minister dies after helicopter crash near Kyiv

Jens Eberl, WDR, daily news at 12:00 p.m., January 18, 2023

Adjusted casualty count down

Even hours after the crash, there are slightly fluctuating figures on the number of victims. Initially, Ukrainian authorities had spoken of 18 fatalities, but later corrected the number slightly downwards. The civil defense of Ukraine reported a total of 17 victims, including several children.

First also confirmed ARD correspondent Golod, that probably four children were among the fatalities. According to the latest information from rescue services, the number of victims has been corrected again: According to this, there were 14 deaths, including one child. At least 29 people were injured.

The fatalities include Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyj, his first deputy and the State Secretary of the Interior Ministry, police chief Ihor Klymenko said. A total of nine people on board the helicopter died in the crash.

“According to current information, 17 people were killed, including 4 children”, Vassili Golod, WDR, currently Brovary near Kyiv, on the helicopter accident near Kyiv

Tagesschau 2:00 p.m., 18.1.2023

Germany offers support in clarifying the matter

In reaction to the crash, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj spoke of a “terrible tragedy” and a “black morning”.

Politicians abroad also expressed their condolences after the crash. Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on Twitter: “On this sad day, our thoughts are with the relatives of the victims and the injured” and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “who lost his interior minister today”. The crash once again shows “the immense toll that Ukraine is paying in this war.” A brief silent memorial was held at the World Economic Forum for the victims of the helicopter crash.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she expressed her “heartfelt sympathy” to the Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev in a telephone call and offered support from the German side in clarifying the possible cause of the crash.

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman paid tribute to the late Home Secretary Monastyrskyi as a leading figure in the Ukrainian people’s struggle against the Russian invasion. She was impressed by his determination, optimism and patriotism.

The chief of police will initially take over the duties of the interior minister

Monastyrskyj is the highest-ranking Ukrainian government official to die since Russia’s war of aggression began 11 months ago. He was appointed Minister of the Interior by President Zelenskyy in 2021 and was responsible for the police and internal security in this office.

As the Reuters news agency reports, citing Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, police chief Klymenko has already been appointed the new deputy interior minister. For the time being, Klymenko should also assume the duties of department head in this capacity.

No combat operations in crash area

According to Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Monastyrsky and the Interior Ministry leadership were on their way to one of the front sectors in Ukraine. He did not want to give any further details. Combat operations in the region around Kyiv were not reported at the time of the crash.

The helicopter comes from France and, according to the French Ministry of Defense, was sold to Ukraine in 2019. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, it was an Airbus H225 helicopter. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) imposed a temporary flight ban on the H225 in 2016 due to safety concerns. The predecessor model AS332 was involved in several flight accidents.

Ukrainian Interior Minister killed in helicopter crash

Rebecca Barth, WDR, currently Kyiv, 18.1.2023 11:40 a.m

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