In Moscow, Russia claimed that Ukraine intentionally shot down a Russian military transport plane carrying 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers to a prisoner exchange, killing all 74 people on board. According to Russian state media, there were six Russian crew members and three guards on the Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane, which was shot down near the Russian city of Belgorod close to the Ukrainian border.
A Russian lawmaker, Andrei Kartapolov, stated in an interview that the incident was deliberate, pointing out that the Ukrainian operators of surface-to-air missile systems knew the plane’s route and purpose, alleging their intention to sabotage the prisoner exchange. He also claimed that the plant was shot down by missiles of either U.S. or German manufacture.
Ukraine’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to the accusations from Russia. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak explained that time was needed to clarify all the data before making any comments.
A video posted on the Telegram messaging app showed a large aircraft falling toward the ground and exploding in a vast fireball. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of the Belgorod region stated there were no survivors and confirmed that the plane had come down in the region’s Korochansky district, northeast of Belgorod. The area has experienced frequent attacks from Ukraine, including a December missile strike that killed 25 people.
In response to the incident, Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the Russian State Duma, vowed to prepare an appeal to the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag to demonstrate who they are supporting and financing. He claimed that Ukraine shot down their own soldiers who were on a humanitarian mission to reunite with their families, using American and German rockets.
The Kremlin stated that it was looking into the situation in response to a reporter’s question.