The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine is among 17 people who have died after a helicopter crashed by a nursery in a Kyiv suburb, authorities have said.

Two children are among those reported to have died in the crash in Brovary on Wednesday.

In a statement, police said minister Denys Monastyrskyi and First Deputy Minister Yevhen Yenin were among those in the crash.

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 says there were children inside the nursery at the time of the crash

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