Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with the families of victims of the Boeing crash in Iran, vowing that the government is “doing everything possible to establish the truth.”
Eleven Ukrainians were among 176 people killed when the Ukraine International Air plane crashed moments after takeoff from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran early Wednesday.
“I met and talked with relatives of Ukrainians who died in the plane crash. I understand that no words of support will heal their hellish pain. I realize that no compensation can return their loved ones to them. The government will provide them with all necessary assistance, including financial,” Zelensky wrote on Facebook, according to Ukrainian news agency Unian.
“Perhaps the most important thing that the government can and must do for them is to provide comprehensive answers regarding all circumstances of the tragedy,” he added. “I assure them that we, for our part, are doing everything possible to establish the truth. Ukraine will definitely learn it.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with relatives of the crew members of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 from Tehran.Ukrainian Presidential Press ServiceThe Boeing 737 — now believed by US authorities and others to have been accidentally shot down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile — was headed to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
Other victims included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three British nationals.
On Friday, Iran denied allegations that the jetliner was shot down by a missile. The plane crash came just hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq in response to the US drone strike that killed Iran’s top general last week.
Meanwhile, Zelensky on Friday received “important data” related to the Iran crash ahead of a call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko.
