Fiery Kyiv helicopter crash kills Ukraine ministers and child
Volodymyr Zelensky says he doesn’t fear for his life, insisting ‘nothing has changed’ hours after 14 people, including a senior minister and two other government officials were killed.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said he doesn’t fear for his life, insisting “nothing has changed” just hours after one of his senior ministers and two other government officials were killed in a helicopter crash.
During an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Zelensky was asked about his own personal safety and replied: “No, I am not worried about that (being a Russian target)” as the investigation began into the cause of the helicopter crash over Brovary, which killed 14, including one child as well as the Ukraine interior minister Denis Monastyrsky, deputy Yevhen Yenin, and state secretary Yura Lubkovich.
Investigators have not ruled anything out but are looking at sabotage, pilot error, and malfunctions as possible reasons for the Wednesday morning crash.
The death toll from the crash has been rounded down by government officials, who have confirmed all nine onboard the helicopter, which was heading to the eastern front lines, crashed in a fireball on the Dzhereltse kindergarten just as parents were dropping off children before work. In all, 14 people died.
“There was a lot of panic,” Anna Mayboroda, 37, a mother of a 3-year-old who was inside the kindergarten told local reporters.
Mr Zelensky told the Davos forum, via a video link, that Ukraine needed the west to make rapid decisions, calling for more air defence systems, tanks, ammunition and financial assistance.
“Russia intends to get its revenge, but we think they won’t succeed because they are fighting not just Ukraine, but the whole civilised approach towards life,’’ he said.
“When the devil seeks revenge, the world needs resolve and with speed.’’
President Joe Biden offered condolences to the families of the victims, reiterating the United States’ “unfailing partnership” with Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.
“We grieve with all those who are mourning this heartbreaking tragedy,” Mr Biden said in a statement, calling Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, who was killed in the crash, a “reformer and patriot.”
Earlier the German chancellor Olaf Scholz made no reference to the Leopard 2 tanks which Britain and other allies have been urging Germany to supply to Ukraine.
Instead he referred to providing weapons systems such as the IRIS-T medium range surface to air missiles, and the armoured light vehicles Marders.
Mr Scholz said: “Russia has already failed completely in reaching it imperialist goals, Ukraine is defending itself with great success and impressive courage’’. He added that “ a brand international alliance led by G7 countries are providing Ukraine with financial, humanitarian and military support.
“Germany made a contribution of 12bn euro last year and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary,’’ he said after emphasising that the war was impacting “all of us”.
He said there were risks to the geopolitical order, inflation, and for some countries like his own to give up Russian fossil fuel imports.
NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters in Davos that Ukraine needed a significant increase in weapons at a pivotal moment in the war.
”President Putin has shown no sign of preparing for peace and therefore he must realise he cannot win on battlefield. This is a pivotal moment in the war and the need for a significant increase in support for Ukraine,” Mr Stoltenberg said.
“If we want a negotiated peaceful solution tomorrow we need to provide more weapons today.”
Crash piles pressure on West
The crash has put immediate pressure on the West to provide more heavy weaponry to the war-torn nation.
The helicopter was headed to the eastern frontline of the Russian war when it crashed in Brovary, about 20km northeast of the Ukraine capital Kyiv.
The helicopter was seen to be flying low in heavy fog shortly before it crashed, possibly to avoid Russian radar. It circled a local supermarket before suddenly spiralling out of control and crashing, causing a fireball.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the crash as “a terrible tragedy”.
“Today, a terrible tragedy occurred in Brovary, Kyiv region. An SES (State Emergency Service) helicopter crashed, and a fire broke out at the crash site. The pain is unspeakable,” he said in a statement on social media.
Investigators said they would pursue several lines of inquiry, including claims from some eye witnesses who said the helicopter was on fire before it crashed.
Interior Ministry official Anton Gerashchenko, said the crash could have been the result of Russian sabotage.
“My friends, statesmen of Ukraine – Minister of Internal Affairs Denis Monastyrsky, Yevhen Yenin and Yura Lubkovich – died in a helicopter crash of the State Emergency Service in Brovary,” Mr Gerashchenko said.
“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.”
In recent weeks, there has been debate among Western and NATO allies about supplying Ukraine with heavy tanks to prepare for the (northern) “spring offensive” – a renewed series of attacks on Ukraine planned by Russia after the winter thaw.
In recent days, Russia has made advances on the mining settlement of Soledar near Bakhmut, and a Russian missile struck a residential building in Dnipro on Saturday killing six children and 39 adults, fuelling increasing frustration by Ukraine officials about what they perceive to be the West’s reluctance to provide much-needed tanks.
Britain has agreed to send a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks and has been pressuring Germany to release its Leopard 2 tanks to help quash any Russian advances.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that increasing support for Ukraine – beyond the current commitment of supplying light tanks – required other countries to commit first and would be considered only if it avoided escalating the war.
The issue was being discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with Mr Zelensky and Mr Scholz due to deliver addresses on Wednesday (early Thursday AEDT).
At Davos, there was 15 seconds of silence after opening the forum session out of respect for those killed.
British Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the loss of Mr Monastyrsky was heartbreaking in the fight against Vladimir Putin’s invasion. She wrote on Twitter: “This is truly heartbreaking. Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky was a leading light in supporting the Ukrainian people during Putin’s illegal invasion, and when we spoke in October I was struck by his determination, optimism and patriotism.”
Mr Monastyrsky, 42, was a lawyer who had been promoted by Mr Zelensky in mid-2021. He is the most senior government minister to be killed since the war began nearly a year ago.
European Council president Charles Michel sent condolences: “We join Ukraine in grief following the tragic helicopter accident. Minister Denys Monastyrsky was a great friend of the EU.”
Videos on social media showed graphic images of a building on fire and people screaming. Others showed a playground covered in debris.
Officials said 22 people – including 10 children – had been rushed to hospital, and warned the death toll could rise.
More Coverage
Former prime ministers divided over how to retaliate against Iran
Israel has promised to retaliate for Iran’s massive missile attack last week. How it does so involves great risk, and could have major repercussions for the Middle East and the world.
Albanese likened to Latham by Howard amid split with US on Israel
John Howard has drawn parallels between Anthony Albanese and Mark Latham over Labor’s handling of national security, warning that the government ‘doesn’t really have a grasp on the nuances of foreign policy’.