We need to end this war, says Zelensky, after fatal helicopter crash

You may have seen that Zelensky earlier mentioned the attack on the city of Dnipro. A few days ago, a Russian missile strike caused a block of flats in the city to collapse.

Roman Zhuravskyi moved his elderly mother Olena to Dnipro last year, believing it to be a safer place to live during the war.

On Saturday 40 people were killed in the strike. Roman's mother is still missing.

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Germany no longer depends on Russian imports for its energy supply, the country's finance minister has told the BBC.

Christian Lindner said Germany had completely diversified its energy infrastructure since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

Following the invasion, Russia turned off the gas taps to Europe, leading to fears of blackouts this winter.

But Germany had found new sources of energy, Lindner said.

"Yes, of course Germany is still dependent on energy imports, but today, not from Russian imports but from global markets," he said.

Germany previously imported around half of its gas from Russia.

Read more on this story.

Witnesses describe the scene as a helicopter came down in a suburb of Kyiv killing 14 people including a child and the three main figures in the country's interior ministry.

President Zelensky referred to the incident in an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Oliver Contreras/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockCopyright: Oliver Contreras/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

US President Joe Biden and his wife, the First Lady Jill Biden, have released a statement sending their "deepest condolences" to the families of all those killed in this morning's helicopter crash in Ukraine.

They call it a "heart-breaking tragedy" and say "our hearts are also with the dozens of civilians who were killed or injured, including precious children".

The Bidens have said Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky - who was killed by the crash - "championed the will of the Ukrainian people" and have praised him team involved in the preservation of Ukraine's democracy.

The statement says the Bidens will "continue to honour that legacy" through efforts to strengthen Ukraine's institutions and partnership with Ukraine's people.

They conclude by saying "the United States stands with the people of Ukraine in the face of this tragedy, and for as long as it takes".

Boris Johnson, a staunch supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has expressed his condolences after a fatal helicopter crash near Kyiv.

Three senior figures in the country's interior ministry were among 14 people killed when the aircraft came down beside a nursery in Bovary, an eastern suburb of the capital.

Johnson, who is a popular figure in Ukraine due to his stance whilst PM, tweeted: "We stand with the people of Ukraine now and always."

REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File PhotoCopyright: REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo

We were reporting earlier about German Chancellor Olaf Scholz coming under increasing international pressure to authorise the export of heavy German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the chancellor promised Germany would support Ukraine for "as long as necessary" but there was no mention of tanks.

Scholz insisted his country would continuously supply Ukraine "with large quantities of arms, in close consultation with our partners".

However, when pressed about Germany's continued hesitancy over tanks he listed examples of weapons being supplied to Ukraine, such as rocket launchers and armoured vehicles, but didn't mention the Leopards.

UK Defence Minister Baroness Goldie has said today that these tanks would be a "quantum step" for Ukraine and a "very significant step forward".

Several EU leaders have also been pushing for a decision.

Joe PhuaCopyright: Joe Phua

As the UK and other European nations prepare to send tanks to Ukraine, our correspondent Andrew Harding has been to visit members of a front-line Ukrainian tank unit already engaging Russian forces near the fiercely contested towns of Bakhmut and Soledar.

"There were very heavy losses. It's very pitiful. It's hard," said Danylo, an officer in charge of repairing tanks for the 24th Mechanised Brigade.

He said the current deadlock would not be broken unless foreign tanks arrived in significant numbers.

"Yes, we'll be stuck here. We need these [Western tanks] to stop Russia's aggression. With infantry, covered by tanks, we'll win for sure," he said.

"Leopards, Challengers, Abrams - any foreign tank is good for us! I think we need at least 300. And we need them now!" said Bogdan, a 55-year-old Ukrainian volunteer.

• Read more: Bakhmut defenders plea for Western tanks

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ReutersCopyright: Reuters

If you're just joining us or need a catch up, here's what's been happening.

• The three main figures in Ukraine's interior ministry have been killed in a helicopter crash beside a nursery in Brovary, east of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv
• Fourteen people died including one child and 25 people, including 11 children, are in hospital
• There is no indication the crash was anything other than an accident but state security cited several possible causes including sabotage, a technical malfunction or breach of flight rules
• President Zelensky described it as terrible tragedy that claimed the lives of "true patriots" and said "there are no accidents at war time"
• Zelensky told delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos that "it was not us who started the war but it is us who will have to end it"
• Russian President Vladimir Putin "has shown no sign of preparing for peace", said Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, adding that Ukraine needs a "significant increase" in weapons
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made no comment about supplying tanks to Ukraine during his address in Davos despite rising pressure to authorise the export of heavy German-made Leopard tanks

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The death of Ukraine's interior minister Denys Monastyrsky is one of the most high-profile fatalities on the Ukrainian side since Russia invaded almost a year ago.

As we've been reporting, his deputy Yevhen Yenin and state secretary Yurii Lubkovich were also killed in the crash.

Dr Patrick Bury is a senior lecturer in security at University of Bath and has been outlining what kind of impact the three deaths may have on the war effort.

Speaking to BBC News, Dr Bury says: "Monastyrsky was essentially the reformer inside the interior ministry; that was his brief.

Bury says his deputy Yenin was the one with a lot of contacts and knowledge about Ukraine's "counter-espionage, counter-intelligence missions and foreign intelligence missions".

He adds the state secretary would have been "responsible for rolling the ministry day-to-day".

Bury describes these losses as a "significant blow" for the moment and says some Ukrainians are describing this as "like a decapitation of the ministry of interior".

A mother living nearby witnessed the helicopter crash near the kindergarten in Bovary, east of Kyiv.

Kateryna Pechura says she thought it was a rocket at first, because everything had gone dark.

"The children were crying, mothers were screaming, someone was running carrying kids shoes, clothes. It was awful."

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More now from the World Economic Forum - the event Volodymyr Zelensky has just spoken at - in Davos, Switzerland.

Polish President Andrzej Duda is afraid that Russia is preparing a new offensive in the coming months.

He says it is crucial to provide additional support to Ukraine with modern tanks and modern missiles.

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Ukrainian MP Maria Mezentseva has responded to the deaths of government officials in this morning's helicopter crash, saying it is like "a family loss".

"I'm feeling devastated; feeling like I've lost a part of me," Mezentseva has said.

Speaking to the BBC's Newshour, she says the former Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky would "always be in our hearts and in our thoughts".

Mezentseva, who was speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, has said the delegation were crying when they heard the news earlier.

She described Monastyrsky as energetic, very positive and a person who was always ready to do service.

You can listen to the full interview here.

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One final question touches on the helicopter crash and whether Zelensky himself feels safe in his own country every day.

Again in Ukrainian, he answers: "No, I am not worried about that.

"I don't have anything to add here.

"Nothing has changed; we still need ammunition. I am not in haste to go anywhere.

The president says the war has many "dimensions" adding that "there are no accidents at war time".

Zelensky finishes by saying "every individual, every death is a result of the war".

He is thanked for his time and once again receives applause from the room.

The president is asked about comments by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who suggested Ukraine must have a dialogue with Russia, as Russia must be a part of the global order.

Zelensky is asked what he thinks Russia's place in the world is.

He responds by saying: "I don't know the proper place for it - I think Russia has already earned a place among terrorists and this no longer depends on their leadership."

Zelensky says everything depends on the strength of Ukraine and support from its partners, but also the support of the Russian society.

"They have to open their eyes if they want to see the future of the Russian federation - they have to recognise their own mistakes and they will have to respect our territorial integrity."

Zelensky finishes his speech and is straightaway greeted by applause from delegates in Davos.

He is now facing questions and is asked about what the war looks like to him on the frontlines right now.

"I think the war doesn't look good, which has not been good since the beginning," the president answers in Ukrainian.

"How it looks? It looks as follows: we are standing strongly in the east of our country.

"It is very important to know that we are strong, not just in the east but also inside the country.

"It was not us who started the war but it is us who will have to end it."

Zelensky thanks countries for their help since the conflict began but adds that Ukraine still needs help from allies to support air defence systems.

He says the world must outpace Russia and adds that Ukraine's defence systems must outpace Russia's missiles.

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The Ukrainian president continues by saying that three years ago the world was fighting Covid-19 and won, and now the world is fighting against Putin.

In three years we will be discussing new challenges and threats which will mean we will definitely overcome the current threat, he says.

"History repeats itself. The world either fails to notice or underestimates a threat, then it unites to resist it and then the world wins, every time."

Zelensky says the minute's silence helps people remember the many lives that have been lost in the war.

He reflects on previous tragedies, saying it only took three minutes for a Russian missile to travel hundreds of kilometres to hit a residential block in Dnipro and kill at least 45 people a few days ago.

He says the world cannot keep pace with the many challenges - such as the energy and food crises - that have come from the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has just started his address in Davos Switzerland - his wife Olena is in the audience.

He starts by reflecting on the tragedy this morning, which he says took the lives of the interior minister of Ukraine, his colleagues and the crew.

He says they lost their lives "because of the war" and asks for people present to "honour the lives lost with a minute of silence".

We're now hearing from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He is addressing global leaders - who have gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum - via videolink.