Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and 13 others died in a helicopter crash near Kyiv on Wednesday morning, marking one of the deadliest incidents involving high-ranking officials since Russia’s military operation began nearly a year ago. The state emergency services helicopter crashed into a nursery and residential building in Brovary, a suburb scarred by heavy fighting during the early stages of the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” in an emotional address, calling Monastyrsky a “reliable partner” and key architect of Ukraine’s wartime security strategy. Among the victims were Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin and ministry officials en route to the eastern front lines near Kharkiv.
Emergency crews battled flames for an hour as witnesses described scenes of chaos. Tetiana Shebika, a local resident, recounted rushing to evacuate her four-year-old granddaughter from the nursery moments after hearing the explosion. “Everything was on fire,” she said.
While the cause remains under investigation, the crash highlights risks faced by officials in a warzone where low-altitude flights are common to evade missile systems. The EU and other allies swiftly offered condolences, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stating: “We are mourning with you.”
Brovary – liberated from Russian forces last April – now faces renewed trauma as the conflict’s anniversary nears. Zelenskyy vowed a full probe into the incident, which occurred amid heightened international scrutiny of Ukraine’s wartime governance.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
