Woman who died with her child in Brovary is survived by husband and elder daughter

Thirteen adults and one child were killed in the helicopter crash in Brovary, Kyiv Oblast, on 18 January, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported as of 15:45. Oleksandr Ponomarenko, a resident of Brovary, Kyiv Oblast, and father of two children, lost his wife Olena and younger daughter Milana. The tragic news was reported by family friend Anna Volkova.

"Dear Brovarchans [residents of Brovary - ed.] and everyone who cares!!!!!!!!! Tragedy struck us today.

My sister's godfather lost his wife and little daughter Milana in that kindergarten. Oleksandr also has another daughter,"  she wrote.

Relatives and friends of the family are raising funds to help Oleksandr: Olena Zhydenko, who lives in Brovary, wrote on Facebook, "One of those killed today as a result of the tragedy in Brovary was a sunny-natured girl, a fantastic gymnast who trained alongside my daughter with coach Yelyzaveta Utkina - Milana Ponomarenko and her mother. We can't put into words the deep pain and despair of losing this angel and her mother, but we can and must support her father and her older sister Yeva."

Background: A helicopter crashed near a kindergarten and a residential building in Brovary. The tragedy in Brovary claimed the lives of 14 people. Many children were victims of the fire which engulfed the kindergarten.

24 patients, including 10 children, were taken to the emergency department of the Brovarskyi District Hospital.

Some of them have already been transferred to the Burns Centre in Kyiv.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!