Helicopter Crash: Ukraine’s Interior Minister Among 17 Killed After It Crashes At School

A helicopter crash near a kindergarten in the Kyiv region resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals, including the leadership team of the interior ministry of Ukraine who were on board the aircraft and three children who were on the ground, according to authorities.

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, 42, died along with his first deputy minister and state secretary.

According to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, at least 30 other people, including 12 children, are still being treated in hospitals as a result of the incident that occurred in the city of Brovary on Wednesday.

The SBU State Security Service reported that it was looking into and taking into account a number of potential causes for the crash, including a violation of flight regulations, a technical issue, and the deliberate destruction of the helicopter.

On social media, ministry adviser Anton Geraschenko announced the passing of Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky, First Deputy Minister Yevheniy Yenin, and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovychis.

Tymoshenko has decreased the dead toll from the crash on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, which was originally 18. According to Tymoshenko, all nine persons in the helicopter - six ministry employees and three crew members were killed, leaving another seven people including three children were dead on the ground. He said that the search and rescue effort was still ongoing.

"The pain is unbearable," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said of the children killed.

"May all those whose lives were taken this black morning rest in peace!” he said in a statement.

At least 25 people, including 11 children, were being treated in hospitals, officials said. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear, reports nbcnews.

Oleksii Kuleba, the head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, claims that the helicopter came down close to a residential structure and a kindergarten.

"At the time of the tragedy, children and employees of the institution were in the kindergarten. At this point, everyone was evacuated," he said.

Video and images posted online by Ukrainian authorities showed at least one building engulfed in flames as smoke rose from the accident site.

The probe will be conducted by a special commission, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. According to Ukraine's State Emergency Services (SES), this aircraft “was repeatedly involved in the transportation of personnel to emergency sites.”

While important officials areare flown by helicopter across Ukraine at tree-level, there are risks involved.

A door panel and one of the helicopter's rotors that landed on the roof of a car were all that remained of the vehicle. There were three bodies nearby that were wrapped in foil blankets. The main kindergarten building suffered severe damage as a result of the collision.

President Zelensky stated the interior ministry officials were “true patriots of Ukraine. May they rest in peace! May all those whose lives were taken this black morning rest in peace!”