A helicopter crash near Kiev, Ukraine, on January 18, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 14 people, including Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrsky. The crash occurred in heavy fog, and the cause is currently under investigation.
Denys Monastyrsky was appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs in April 2022, with a mandate to reform the Ukrainian police force and fight corruption. Prior to this, he had a long career in law enforcement, including serving as the head of the National Police of Ukraine. He was widely seen as a reformer, and his death is a significant loss for the Ukrainian government.
The helicopter, which was carrying Monastyrsky and 13 other passengers, was en route from Kiev to the city of Poltava. The crash occurred in a forested area, and rescuers had difficulty reaching the wreckage due to the heavy fog. All 14 passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Among the other passengers were the heads of the National Police and the State Border Guard Service.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and ordered the formation of a commission to investigate the crash. The president also declared January 19 a day of mourning.
The crash has shocked the nation and raised concerns about the safety of government officials in Ukraine. Monastyrsky’s death is a significant loss for the country, as he was seen as a key figure in the fight against corruption and the reform of the police force.
Denys Monastyrsky, a reformist minister who dedicated his career to fighting corruption and reforming the police force, will be remembered for his sacrifice, along with that of the other 13 victims, in the tragic helicopter crash that took their lives and left the nation in mourning.