Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Downing Its Military Plane With 65 Prisoners Of War On Board
Russia's Defense Ministry on Wednesday accused Ukrainian forces of downing a military transport plane, resulting in the tragic death of all 74 individuals on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.?
Ukrainian officials refrained from commenting on the incident in Russia's Belgorod border region, underscoring the importance of avoiding unverified information.
Russian military's statement called it a 'terrorist act'
According to the Russian military's statement, the Il-76 transport, with a crew of six and three additional passengers, was purportedly attacked by two Ukrainian missiles launched from the Kharkiv region and has been characterised as a "terrorist act".
A video circulating on social media captured the plane's descent in a snowy, rural landscape, culminating in a significant explosion upon impact. Promptly, emergency teams, including firefighters, ambulances, and police, rushed to the crash site in the Korochansky district of Belgorod.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the POWs were en route for a prisoner exchange when the plane was downed at 11:15 a.m. local time. The POW swap was scheduled to take place later at the Kolotilovka crossing on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
Crashes linked to increased flight activity during Russia-Ukraine conflict
As Russia marks the 700th day of the war against Ukraine's fleet of Soviet-era warplanes, the Russian air force has faced several crashes, possibly linked to increased flight activity during the conflict.?
Simultaneously, Kyiv has claimed success in shooting down two Russian command and control planes, boasting a significant achievement if accurate. Cross-border attacks on Russia's Belgorod region have intensified, with the deadliest incident claiming 21 lives in late December.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Governor of Belgorod, issued a "missile alert" on his Telegram channel just before the crash, advising residents to take shelter.?
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War in Ukraine is currently examining the incident but has refrained from offering immediate details, emphasising the need to avoid spreading unverified information.
The Russian Defense Ministry mentioned dispatching a special military commission to the crash site. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, refrained from commenting due to insufficient information.?
The Il-76, designed for troop and cargo transport, was en route from Chkalovsky Airfield in the Moscow region to the Belgorod region.
Russia-Ukraine war: static situation amid a second winter of fighting??
The war's 1,500-kilometer front line has seen a largely static situation amid a second winter of fighting, focusing recently on long-range strikes as both sides seek to replenish weapons stockpiles.?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a major Russian missile attack on Tuesday, resulting in 18 deaths and 130 injuries.
Analysts suggest Russia's stockpiling of missiles for a winter aerial bombardment, while Ukraine aims to strike inside Russia with new drone technologies. Russia's use of decoy missiles on Tuesday may have sought to exploit weaknesses in Ukraine's air defences, according to a U.S. think tank.
A further barrage of Russian S-300 missiles hit residential districts in Kharkiv, injuring nine and damaging buildings. Russia denies targeting civilians despite substantial evidence to the contrary.?
Russian air defences reportedly shot down four Ukrainian drones over the Oryol region early Wednesday. Ukraine's allies pledge continued military aid, while the United States, its primary provider, faces political obstacles. The German defence ministry announced plans to send six Sea King Mk41 helicopters to Ukraine.
(With inputs from AP)
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