At Least 17 People Killed in Helicopter Crash in Kyiv Suburb, Including Ukrainian Interior Minister and Three Children

Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, his deputy Yevhen Yenin and State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Yurii Lubkovych were among at least 17 people killed in a helicopter crash in a Kyiv suburb on Wednesday, according to Ihor Klymenko, chief of Ukraine’s National Police.

The crash also killed three children, and there were no immediate details on the cause of the incident. The Associated Press reported that cries could be heard at the scene, which was consumed by a fire.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and vowed justice for those killed in the crash. He also ordered an investigation into the incident.

“We will do everything to find out the cause of the tragedy and to bring those responsible to justice,” Zelensky said in a statement.

The crash comes amid a war between Ukraine and Russia, though it is unclear if the incident was related to the conflict. The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of launching a strike on a Dnipro apartment complex earlier this month, killing at least seven people.

The Ukrainian government has not yet released any information on the cause of the crash, and an investigation is ongoing. The families of the victims have been notified and are receiving assistance from the government.