Ukraine’s interior minister killed in helicopter crash | First Thing

Denys Monastyrskiy and key officials, as well as children, among dead after crash outside Kyiv. Plus, meteorologists describe what it’s like to have a front row seat to the climate crisis

Good morning.

Fifteen people including Ukraine’s interior minister and other senior officials were killed when a helicopter crashed outside Kyiv in the town of Brovary, the national police chief said.

What has Volodymr Zelenskiy said about the tragedy? Writing on Telegram, Ukraine’s president said: “Today, a terrible tragedy occurred in Brovary, Kyiv region. A state emergency services helicopter crashed, and a fire broke out at the crash site … 25 people were injured, including ten children. As of this minute, three children died. The pain is unspeakable. The helicopter fell on the territory of one of the kindergartens.”

What else is happening in US politics? Republican lawmakers across the country have already filed dozens of bills that would restrict voting, including proposals in Texas that would increase criminal penalties on people who violate voting laws and enact a new law enforcement unit to prosecute election crimes.