18 January 2023 , 15:19
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Chilling footage has shown the insides of the kindergarten that erupted into flames after a helicopter crashed into it in Ukraine this morning.
Three children perished in the crash with officials expecting the child death toll to rise as they scour the crash site for victims and survivors.
Among the adults killed were parents taking their youngsters to school.
Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, his deputy Yevhen Yenin, and State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yurii Lubkovych were among those inside the helicopter when it plummeted into the nursery in Brovary, a town to the east of Kyiv.
At least 18 people died in the tragedy, with another 29 injured, including 15 kids.
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There was no immediate word on whether the crash was an accident or a result of the war with Russia, though some officials speculate it could've been a case of sabotage.
The playful child-friendly colours of the kindergarten in Brovary are dulled after the explosion today
A door blown off its hinges lies on the floor of the Brovary kindergartenNo fighting has been reported recently in the Kyiv area.
After the flames were brought under control and survivors rushed to hospital, footage emerged reportedly showing the charred, gutted insides of the nursery where just hours earlier children had played.
In one of the clips from inside the building, the camera scans the pastel colours of the toilet cubcile doors and shows the charred doors blown off their handles among other debris strewn across the floor.
The external brickwork of the kindergarten blackened after the crashIn another video of an eerily quiet courtyard, the external brick work is covered with black explosion marks as the ground is completely crowded with furniture and windows smashed apart by the blast.
It has been reported that the tragedy could become worse as the day unfolds as some children are still unaccounted for, according to the head of the Kyiv region military administration.
Oleksiy Kuleba told reporters at the scene that "there is no information on the number of missing children".
There are still children unaccounted for, officials say"Identification is ongoing. Parents are coming, lists are being compiled."
As frantic parents waited for news of their missing children today, twisted despot Vladimir Putin droned on about Russia breaking the siege of Leningrad 80 years ago.
Meanwhile, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska was seen blotting away the tears after hearing of the tragedy today.
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Nine of those killed were aboard the emergency services helicopter that crashed in Brovary, Kyiv (social media/e2w)Her husband Volodymyr Zelensky called the crash a "terrible tragedy" as he ordered Ukraine's security services to investigate "all the circumstance of the incident".
He called his colleagues of the Interior Ministry "true patriots of Ukraine".
An interior ministry advisor, Anton Gerashchenko confirmed the deaths of his colleagues and suggested sabotage as a potential cause in a touching tribute this morning.
Helicopter parts at the scene of a helicopter crash on the outskirts of Kyiv today (Daniel Cole/AP/REX/Shutterstock)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.
"Everyone on board the helicopter also died. The causes of the tragedy are being established by investigators.
"Whether it was sabotage, a technical malfunction, a violation of flight safety rules, we will soon find out.
Minister of Internal Affairs, Denis Monastyrsky, died in the crash (AFP via Getty Images)"My deepest condolences to the families and friends of Denis, Yevhen and all the families of those killed in this terrible disaster.
"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!"