Ukrainian minister among 18 dead in helicopter crash near Kyiv

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.

Images from the scene show huge flames and a plume of smoke going into the sky.

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,”