Ukraine's president Zelensky addresses Davos forum after fatal helicopter crash

 Ukraine's president Zelensky addresses Davos forum after fatal helicopter crash

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said there are "no accidents at war time" after 14 people died in a helicopter crash in the capital, Kyiv.

Ukraine has not claimed Russian involvement, but Mr Zelensky told the World Economic Forum in Davos the tragedy was a consequence of the war.

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky died, alongside several colleagues.

Mr Zelensky also used his video address to urge allies to quickly send more weapons before new Russian offensives.

Ukraine

"The time the free world uses to think is used by the terrorist state to kill," he explained. The remark was interpreted as a request for Germany to hurry along a delivery of its much-coveted Leopard tanks.

Berlin has reportedly been unwilling to send the vehicles unless the US commits to providing its own Abrams battle tanks. The UK recently pledged to send a number of its own tanks to Kyiv.

The head of the Nato military alliance said at Davos on Wednesday that Ukraine could expect to receive "more support, more advanced support, heavier weapons and more modern weapons".

Jens Stoltenberg said Nato's member states would meet on Friday to discuss what military equipment could be sent to Kyiv.

Ukraine helicopter crash: What we know so far

Who was Denys Monastyrsky?

Wednesday's helicopter crash occurred near a nursery in Brovary, outside Kyiv, at around 08:30 local time (06:30 GMT). One of the 14 who died was a child.

Mr Monastyrsky, 42, was one of President Zelensky's longest serving political advisers. He is the highest-profile Ukrainian casualty since the war began.

His death cuts to the heart of the government in Kyiv as the interior ministry has the vital task of maintaining security and running the police during the war.

He was a recognisable face for Ukrainians throughout the war, updating the public on casualties caused by Russian missile strikes since Ukraine was invaded in February 2022.

The deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office said Mr Monastyrsky had been travelling to a war "hot spot". The head of police in Kharkiv added that the ministerial team had been on its way to meet him.

There is no indication the crash was anything other than an accident.

But the SBU state security service said it was considering several possible causes - including sabotage, a technical malfunction or breach of flight rules.

Key officials are often flown by helicopter across Ukraine at tree-level to avoid detection, but that comes with risks.

All that was recognisable of the helicopter was a door panel and one of its rotors which landed on the roof of a car. Next to it were three bodies covered in foil blankets.

Other officials who died in the crash included first deputy minister Yevhen Yenin and state secretary Yuriy Lubkovych, as well as Tetiana Shutiak, an aide to Mr Monastyrsky.

Ukraine

Following the disaster, Ihor Klymenko - the head of Ukraine's national police force - was appointed acting interior minister.

A friend of the late minister, MP Mariia Mezentseva, said it was a tragedy for everyone as the ministry had a significant role in Ukraine's response to the invasion.

"He responded 24/7 to his colleagues, friends and family. He was very close to President Zelensky from day one of his presidential campaign," she told the BBC.

US President Joe Biden labelled the crash a "heartbreaking tragedy".

News From:BBC