The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine is among 18 people who have died after a helicopter crashed by a nursery in a Kyiv suburb, authorities have said.
Three children are among those reported to have died in the crash in Brovary on Wednesday morning.
In a statement, police said minister Denys Monastyrskyi and First Deputy Minister Yevhen Yenin were among those in the crash.
Anton Gerashchenko, Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine said: “Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrskyi, his 1st deputy Yevhen Yenin and Ministry’s state secretary Yurii Lubkovych died today in Kyiv region.
“My colleagues, my friends. What a tragic loss. Deepest condolences to their families.”
There has been no immediate information about what caused the crash.
The governor of Kyiv region Oleksiy Kuleba said: “At the time of the tragedy, children and staff of the institution were in the kindergarten.
“Everyone has now been evacuated,”
