Kiev appoints National Police chief as acting Interior Minister

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Jan 17:32

The National Police chief will serve as acting internal affairs minister until parliament agrees on a new name to fill the position.

Ukraine's National Police Chief and acting Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko

Ukraine's government appointed national police chief Ihor Klymenko as acting Interior Minister on Wednesday, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

The Ukrainian PM said Klymenko had officially been appointed to the role of Deputy Interior Minister but would fulfill the responsibilities of the Minister.

Shmyhal announced the appointment hours after a helicopter crashed near a kindergarten and residential buildings in Brovary killing Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi and his first deputy Yevgeny Enin, who were in the helicopter at the time.

At least 14 people were killed in the crash, including 1 child, while 25 people were reported injured.

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and his first deputy died in a plane crash in Brovary, they were in a crashed helicopter, according to the Ukrainian police pic.twitter.com/BoJhIHveu4
— Sprintero (@Sprintero20000) January 18, 2023

"The government has appointed Igor Klimenko deputy minister of internal affairs -Ukraine's National Police chief. And entrusted him with the duties of the minister of internal affairs," Shmyhal posted on Telegram.

He added that a new head of the ministry will be appointed later after parliamentary discussions regarding the name.