Russia-Ukraine warfare newest: Zelenskiy says helicopter crash that killed at the least 16 is ‘horrible tragedy’ | Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has stated he has “little question” {that a} Russian victory in Ukraine is “inevitable” whereas addressing employees throughout a go to to a weapons manufacturing unit in St Petersburg right now.

The Russian chief additionally claimed Moscow’s actions in Ukraine have been meant to cease a “warfare” that had been raging in japanese Ukraine for a few years.

Whereas attending a gathering with veterans in his dwelling city, he stated Russia had lengthy sought to barter a settlement to the battle in Ukraine’s Donbas, the place Moscow-backed separatists have battled Ukrainian forces since 2014.

He stated:

Giant-scale fight operations involving heavy weapons, artillery, tanks and plane haven’t stopped in Donbas since 2014. All that we’re doing right now, as a part of the particular army operation, is an try and cease this warfare. That is the which means of our operation – defending individuals who dwell on these territories.

Describing Ukraine’s east as Russia’s “historic territories”, he stated sending troops into Ukraine on 24 February final yr was essential to guard Russian audio system and conduct “demilitarisation” and “denazification” of Ukraine to forestall it from posing a menace to Russia.

Ukraine and the west have rejected Putin’s acknowledged goals of demilitarising and “denazifying” the nation as a pretext for a warfare of alternative and unprovoked aggression.

The loss of life toll from this morning’s helicopter crash close to a nursery outdoors Kyiv has now been up to date to 16, based on Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential workplace.

Among the many 16 useless are Ukraine’s inside minister, Denys Monastyrskyi, his first deputy, Yevheniy Yenin, different senior officers, and three kids.

Regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba had earlier stated that 18 individuals had been killed however Tymoshenko later introduced a loss of life toll of 16.

He stated 30 others had been injured, together with 12 kids. Many had burns, officers stated.

9 of the individuals confirmed useless have been on board the helicopter, the police chief and emergency providers stated.

Ukraine’s first woman, Olena Zelenska, has described this morning’s helicopter crash which has claimed the lives of inside minister, Denys Monastyrskyi, and several other kids, as a “horrible day for Ukraine”.

The “largest tragedy” from the crash in Brovary “is a loss of life of kids”, Zelenska wrote on Twitter, including:

They’ve religion that we, as adults, are capable of defend them. My ideas are with the victims’ households.

Isobel Koshiw

Six native residents stated the crash occurred someday between 8am and eight.15am this morning.

Two grieving mother and father awaited information beside an ambulance as dozens of different locals stood across the police cordon. Greater than 100 police and troopers watched over police investigators as they marked and picked their means by way of fragments of the helicopter which have been strewn between a residential constructing and the nursery.

Head of Kyiv area, Oleksiy Kuleba, was on the crash website. He stated he was not ready to touch upon the circumstances of the crash and that rescue employees have been nonetheless clearing the rubble.

One witness claims to have seen what might have been the reason for the crash.

Ivan, a 14-year-old boy who lives at Lohunova Steet 17, a 17-storey excessive rise block one constructing away from the crash website, stated he stated the helicopter strategy the neighbouring constructing 18b Lohunova from his kitchen window.

“They didn’t see 18b Lohunova, it’s a excessive rise due to the fog,” stated Ivan.

They tried to return up rapidly however didn’t handle to after which it fell sharply.

Vova, who was accumulating his seven-year-old boy, from the college which is subsequent to the nursery, stated his son noticed the helicopter from the classroom window. “He stated it was on fireplace after which it crashed and I imagine him,” stated Vova.

Yulia, whose two kids additionally attend the college subsequent door however have been finding out remotely that day, says she heard the helicopter circling after which a loud growth, which she believes was the sound of the crash.

“Whether or not it landed on the nursery or elements of it did, I couldn’t say,” stated Yulia.