MOSCOW — A Russian military plane crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region, killing all 74 people on board including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, confirmed the defense ministry.
The Ilyushin Il-76 plane was shown crashing in a video on the Telegram app by a channel associated with Russian security services.
Throughout the nearly two-year-long war, the neighbouring countries have exchanged conflicting accusations.
According to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ilyushin Il-76 was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile system while “performing a scheduled flight” to an airfield near the border. The aircraft carried six crew members, 65 Ukrainian military personnel for a planned exchange, and three Russian military personnel accompanying them.
The incident resulted in the tragic death of all crew and passengers.
https://x.com/aviationbrk/status/1750092126367474148
The Russian Defense Ministry asserted that their radar systems observed the launch of two Ukrainian missiles, claiming that the Ukrainian government was well aware of the established practice of military transport aircraft flying that route ahead of a planned prisoner swap.
In response, Ukraine’s military released a statement emphasizing their commitment to protecting Ukraine and its citizens. Referring to recent Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, they stated their control over airspace and detailed monitoring of missile launch points and logistics. The statement did not directly address the plane crash but highlighted ongoing efforts to counter the terrorist threat.
Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced an investigation into the crash and cautioned against the spread of unverified information, citing active enemy information operations aimed at destabilizing Ukrainian society.
In recent weeks, regions in western Russia, including Belgorod, have faced regular attacks, including a missile strike in December that resulted in the loss of 25 lives.
Russian officials accused Kyiv of carrying out these strikes, although Ukrainian authorities rarely publicly claim responsibility for attacks on Russian territory or the occupied Crimean Peninsula.
Belgorod, the largest Russian city near the border, has been a target, situated approximately 60 miles north of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
