Ukraine helicopter crash.. Facts and questions looking for an answer
A helicopter crash that killed Ukraine's interior minister and about a dozen other people outside the capital Kyiv on Wednesday is the latest in a series of devastating developments in the nearly year-old war that began with Russia.
The incident came four days after a Russian missile hit a residential building in Dnipro, southeastern Ukraine, killing dozens of civilians, including six children.
This attack was the deadliest on civilians since the spring.
Authorities continued to identify the remains and warned that the death toll could rise.
What we know:
- All nine people on board the helicopter were killed in the crash: Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky and four other ministry officials, including Monastyrsky's deputy, Yvin Yinen, State Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yuri Lobkovich, a national police officer and the three crew members .
The officials were heading to the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine.
- The plane, owned by the State Emergency Service, crashed over a kindergarten in the eastern suburb of Brovary.
A child was also killed on the ground, and at least 25 people, including 11 children, were injured.
Monastyrsky is the most senior official killed since the Russian war nearly 11 months ago.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told The Associated Press that Monastyrsky was in charge of the police and emergency services that dealt with the consequences of Russian strikes and mine clearance.
- The helicopter was a French-made Super Puma, according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yury Ihnat.
It was sold to Ukraine in 2019, but it has not been part of equipment provided by France since the start of the war on February 24, according to a French official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose his identity.
Senior officials routinely fly in helicopters at low altitudes and high speeds during conflict, adding to the inherent risks associated with the flights.
Outstanding questions
There was no immediate word on whether the helicopter crash was an accident or directly related to the war.
It happened on a foggy morning and there was no news of recent fighting in the capital area.
Ukrainian authorities immediately opened an investigation.
The tragedy may prompt Kyiv to establish a rule that many countries and companies follow: no more than one senior official should fly on the same plane, said political analyst Physenko.
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