Finland condoles at Ukraine helicopter crash victims

Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen has expressed her deepest condolences to Ukraine and to the families of the people who were killed in the helicopter crash on Wednesday, said the ministry in a press release.

A helicopter crashed into a building near a kindergarten in the city of Brovary outside the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday morning, killing Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, his deputy, and a state secretary.

“On behalf of Finland, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to all the people of Ukraine. Our strong support for Ukraine will continue during these challenging times,” said Mikkonen.

Mikkonen last met Monastyrskyi during her visit to Ukraine last week.

In their meeting, the Ministers discussed the civilian material assistance provided by Finland to Ukraine, the situation of the country’s rescue services, and the assistance provided to refugees arriving in Finland from Ukraine.

The Ministers also attended an event where Finland donated secure and mobile accommodation containers to the Ukrainian rescue services.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto expressed profound shock to Ukraine after the helicopter crash, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in twitter post.

“Deepest condolences to relatives and friends of Minister for Interior Denys Monastyrsky and others who lost their lives in a tragic accident in Ukraine today. Our thoughts are also with all the injured, especially children and their families,” the ministry wrote in the twitter post, quoting Haavisto as saying.