The eleven Ukrainian victims of the crash of the Boeing 737 which crashed in Iran on January 8 were repatriated to Kiev on Sunday. President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the solemn ceremony
The coffins of the eleven Ukrainians who died in the civilian plane accidentally shot down in Tehran, amid heightened tensions with Washington, were repatriated from Iran to Kiev on Sunday, wrapped in flags.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Oleksiy Valeriyovych Honcharuk and other dignitaries attended a solemn ceremony at Boryspil International Airport in the Ukrainian capital. Live images show the coffins of the nine crew members and two passengers were transported.
Employees of Ukraine International Airlines attended the tarmac ceremony, some in tears or a bouquet of flowers in their hands.
176 victims
The UIA Boeing 737 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran to Kiev on January 8, causing the death of all passengers and crew, 176 mostly Iranian-Canadian.
The UIA 737 disaster occurred against the backdrop of serious tensions between Iran and the United States and shortly after the firing of Iranian missiles at bases used by the US military in Iraq.
After two days of denials, the Iranian armed forces admitted that they had shot down the plane by “mistake”.
