Last moments of doomed helicopter before it plunged near nursery killing 18
These are the final moments of the doomed helicopter which plunged near a nursery in Ukraine today, killing three children and 15 others.
A new video shows the aircraft flying low over trees but apparently without difficulty in “the last seconds” before it crashed.
An eyewitness said: "The helicopter made three circles over Fora [a chain of supermarkets in Ukraine], flew into the centre, started descending sharply, hit it, caught fire and that was it."
There was no immediate word on whether the crash was an accident or a result of the war with Russia. No fighting has been reported recently in the Kyiv area.
Reports say a preliminary cause is “pilot error” but a full probe is underway.
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Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, his deputy Yevhen Yenin, and State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yurii Lubkovych were among the 18 killed, according to Ihor Klymenko, chief of Ukraine's National Police.
A new video shows the aircraft flying low over trees but apparently without difficulty in “the last seconds” before it crashed (social media/e2w)
Earlier, officials and media reports said the helicopter crashed near a nursery (social media/e2w)Mr Monastyrskyi is the most senior Ukrainian official to have died since the start of the war with Russia almost 11 months ago.
Nine of those killed were on board the emergency services helicopter that crashed in Brovary, an eastern suburb of the capital, Mr Klymenko said.
Kyiv Regional Governor Oleksii Kuleba said three children were also killed.
A total of 29 people were injured, including 15 children, the regional governor said.
Reports say a preliminary cause is “pilot error” but a full probe is underway (social media/e2w)Ukraine first lady Olena Zelenska was seen dabbing her eyes and pinching her nose in emotion minutes before attending the World Economic Forum session in Davos, Switzerland.
"Another very sad day today - new losses," she said.
Mr Gerashchenko confirmed the deaths and suggested sabotage as a possible cause.
He said: "My friends, statesmen of Ukraine - Minister of Internal Affairs Denis Monastyrsky, Zhenya Yenin [Yevhen Yenin] and Yura Lubkovich died in a helicopter crash of the State Emergency Service in Brovary.
Denys Monastyrskyi is the most senior Ukrainian official to have died since the start of the war with Russia almost 11 months ago (AFP via Getty Images)"Everyone on board the helicopter also died. The causes of the tragedy are being established by investigators.
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"Whether it was sabotage, a technical malfunction, a violation of flight safety rules, we will soon find out.
"My deepest condolences to the families and friends of Denis, Yevhen and all the families of those killed in this terrible disaster.
Nine of those killed were on board the emergency services helicopter that crashed in Brovary (social media/e2w)"Denis, Zhenya, Yura, everyone who was on board the helicopter were patriots of Ukraine, each defended and strengthened Ukraine in their place. We will always remember you.
"Your families will always be under the protection of friends and the state. Eternal memory to you, Friends!"
Earlier, officials and media reports said the helicopter crashed near a nursery.
The site where a helicopter crashed near a kindergarten in Ukraine today (AFP via Getty Images)Forum President Borge Brende requested a few moments of silence after opening the session to honour the Ukrainian officials killed in the crash.
The crash came just four days after a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in south-eastern Ukraine killed 45 civilians, including six children - the deadliest attack on civilians since the spring.
"Haven't had time to recover from one tragedy, there is already another one," said the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
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