The Ukrainian authorities opened a criminal investigation on Thursday January 19 after the death of Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky in the crash of his helicopter which killed at least 14 people. It was ordered by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “I instructed the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with all other authorized bodies, to clarify all the circumstances of the disaster”, did he declare. The helicopter, a Super Puma EC-225 (Airbus Helicopters) according to the State Service for Emergency Situations (SES) to which it belonged, crashed Wednesday morning in Brovary, near kyiv. Follow our live.
NATO promises “heavier and more modern” weapons for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wanted to send a message to the World Economic Forum in Davos: “The main message will be increased support with heavier and more modern weapons.” Many Western countries have announced increased military aid in recent weeks.
Volodymyr Zelensky called for a step up. Also in Davos, the Ukrainian president intervened by videoconference to launch a “call for speed” in the delivery of arms for his country. Ukraine is notably expecting Leopard tanks from Germany, where pressure has particularly mounted in recent days on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz so that he quickly authorizes their delivery.
The United States opposed the delivery of Abrams tanks. The United States is not ready to provide Ukraine with its most advanced heavy tanks, the Abrams, assured the number three of the Pentagon, Colin Kahl. “The Abrams tank is very complicated equipment. It is expensive, it requires difficult training, it has a jet engine. I believe it consumes 11 liters of kerosene per km”he justified. “It’s not the easiest system to maintain”he added.
