Russia has accused Ukraine of shooting down a Russian military transport plane in the Belgorod region, resulting in the tragic loss of all passengers and crew onboard. The Russian Foreign Ministry branded the incident as a "barbaric" act, as reported by Reuters, citing the state news agency TASS.
The plane, an Ilyushin Il-76, was carrying 74 people, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, who were being transported for a prisoner exchange with Russian captives. Unfortunately, there were no survivors in the crash.
The Ministry's statement, however, did not provide any evidence to support the claim of Ukraine's involvement. Adding to the complexity, a Russian lawmaker alleged that the aircraft had been hit by US or German missiles supplied to Ukraine.
The crash of the Il-76, a military transport aircraft designed for airlifting troops, cargo, military equipment, and weapons, occurred on Wednesday in the Belgorod region. This incident was reported by state news agency RIA, quoting the Russian Defence Ministry. A video from the Telegram app, posted by Baza, a channel linked to Russian security services, captured the aircraft plummeting and exploding into a massive fireball.
Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported an unspecified "incident" in the Korochansky district, northeast of Belgorod city. He announced plans to visit the crash site, where investigators and emergency workers were already present. The Kremlin, responding to a reporter's inquiry, stated that it was investigating the situation.
The Belgorod region, sharing a border with Ukraine, has been under frequent attack in recent months. A notable missile strike in December claimed 25 lives.
Ukraine Has Not Yet Responded to Russian Accusations.
