Tragedy Strikes as Russian Military Transport Plane Crashes Near Ukraine Border
A Russian Ilyushin-76 military transport plane crashed in the southern Belgorod region, adjacent to Ukraine, with the Ministry of Defence confirming that 65 Ukrainian military personnel, designated as prisoners of war, were on board. The plane was en route to the Belgorod region for a scheduled exchange. The details of the individuals on the plane remain unverified, and conflicting reports emerged regarding its cargo.
While Ria Novosti news agency reported that nine people, including six crew members, were on the plane, Ukraine’s general staff suggested that the aircraft was transporting missiles for Russia’s S-300 air defense systems. The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate, Andriy Yusov, confirmed the planned exchange but stated it was not proceeding as scheduled.
BREAKING:
⚡ 🇺🇦🇷🇺 The Ukrainians shot down a Russian plane full of Ukrainian prisoners of war
Russian Il-76 Military Transport Aircraft crashed in the Belgorod region, near Ukraine.
The aircraft was targeted by three Patriot or Iris-T Ukrainian missiles, and was full of… pic.twitter.com/JHenY0ErCc
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) January 24, 2024
Video footage shared on social media captured the plane’s descent, followed by an explosion and fireball near the village of Yablonovo. Regional authorities in Belgorod confirmed that the crash occurred in a field near a residential area, resulting in the tragic loss of all on board.
Initial speculations about the plane being downed by Ukrainian forces were later retracted. Ukraine’s general staff, citing an ongoing investigation, denied having accurate information about the incident. The Ukrainian government cautioned against Russian information operations aimed at destabilizing Ukrainian society.
In a subsequent statement, the Russian defence ministry alleged that Ukraine’s air force had fired anti-aircraft missiles, claiming the Il-76 took off from Chkalovsky air base and was heading to Belgorod for the planned exchange. The ministry asserted that the missile attack originated from the Lyptsi area south of the Ukrainian border.
Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of Russia’s parliamentary defence committee, mentioned a second plane transporting 80 Ukrainian prisoners, altering its course after the incident. He declared an end to any further prisoner exchanges.
The crash follows a recent uptick in Russian air attacks, with intensified fighting in Ukraine approaching its third year. Last week, Russia claimed to have captured a village near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, though Kyiv has not confirmed the assertion. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov highlighted ammunition shortages for Ukrainian forces, while Russia reportedly deployed over 600 missiles and 1,000 drones in the past two months.
As the war continues, both sides have engaged in numerous prisoner exchanges. Notably, a significant swap occurred earlier this month, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, where Ukraine released 248 Russian prisoners, and Russia released 230 individuals. Thousands of Ukrainians remain in Russian custody, adding to the complexities of the ongoing conflict. The crash has triggered a nationwide air raid alert in Ukraine, underscoring the heightened tensions in the region.