A Russian military transport plane crashed in a border region near Ukraine on Wednesday, with Moscow accusing Kiev of shooting it down and saying all 74 people on board were killed, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners headed for the exchange. Russia did not provide evidence, and Ukraine did not immediately confirm or deny the allegations.
Footage of the crash posted on social media from Russia’s Belgorod border region shows the plane plummeting from the sky into a snowy countryside and a huge fireball erupting where it appears to have hit the ground. Ta.
The Associated Press could not confirm who was on board or other details about what caused the plane to crash. Throughout the 700-day war, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged conflicting accusations, but the facts have often been difficult to substantiate due to the constraints of a war zone and tight control over information on both sides.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Il-76 transport plane was carrying 65 prisoners, six crew members and three Russian military personnel. The newspaper said that Russian radar recorded the launch of two missiles from Ukraine’s Kharkov region, which borders Belgorod.
“We have seen the report, but we are not in a position to confirm it,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Separately, U.S. officials said it was not clear whether there were actually Ukrainian prisoners on board the plane that crashed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public.
Hours after the crash, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces did not mention the crash in a statement. But it added that Ukraine was specifically targeting Russian military transport planes believed to be transporting missiles near the border.
In May 2023, Russia lost two fighter jets and two helicopters in its airspace in one day. Kiev authorities initially denied involvement, but later announced they had used Patriot missiles to attack the aircraft.
The Kharkov and Belgorod regions have long been the focus of fighting between neighboring countries, including missile and drone airstrikes.
First responders rushed to the crash site in Belgorod’s Kolochansky district, state news agency TASS reported, citing emergency officials. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced that a military commission was on its way to the scene.
The Russian military said the plane was being transported to the area for a prisoner exchange when it crashed at 11:15 a.m. local time (08:15 GMT, 3:15 a.m. ET). According to Russia’s Military Export Agency, the Il-76 is designed to transport up to 225 troops, cargo, military equipment and weapons.
Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed that an exchange was scheduled to take place, but said it had no information on who was on board the downed Russian plane. The Russian government said in a statement that it did not ask for specific airspace to be kept safe for a certain period of time, as in past exchanges.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference at the United Nations that he had “no concerns” that the international community would believe Russia’s claims, and called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council later on Wednesday.
But the Security Council has already scheduled a meeting to hear from a number of countries that were unable to speak at Tuesday’s ministerial meeting on the Israel-Hamas war, and Council president France has indicated it will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday. .
Russian officials and lawmakers questioned whether there should be further prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kiev. The latest rally organized by the United Arab Emirates took place this month and was the largest yet, with 230 Ukrainian prisoners returned home and 248 Russians released. This was the first time in almost five months and the 49th time during the war.
Russia has largely maintained air superiority during its war with Ukraine’s Soviet-era fighter jet fleet. However, Russia has suffered a series of crashes, which some observers attribute to the increased number of aircraft operating due to the fighting in Ukraine.
At the same time, Kiev boasts that it shot down two Russian command and control planes, which, if true, would be a major feat for Ukraine. Cross-border attacks against Russia’s Belgorod region have also increased, with the worst killing 25 people in December.
Shortly before the crash, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on his Telegram channel that a “missile alert” had been issued in the region.
Ukraine’s Prisoner of War Treatment Coordination Headquarters said it was investigating the crash but did not immediately provide information. Instead, it warned against sharing “unverified information.”
“We emphasize that the enemy is actively conducting special intelligence operations against Ukraine aimed at destabilizing Ukrainian society,” the statement said on Telegram.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in the morning that he could not comment on the crash because he did not have enough information. There was no comment from the Kremlin late in the day.
The war’s 1,500-kilometre (930-mile) front is largely stationary as fighting enters its second winter. Recent wars have focused on long-range strikes, as both sides seek to replenish their weapons stockpiles.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 18 people were killed and 130 injured in a major Russian missile attack on Tuesday.
The barrage of more than 40 ballistic, cruise, anti-aircraft and guided missiles hit 130 residential buildings in three Ukrainian cities, “all civilian homes,” President Zelenskiy said on X (formerly Twitter). Stated.
The Russian onslaught, which also targeted Kiev and the second city of Kharkiv, was the heaviest in recent weeks and gave weight to President Zelenskiy’s appeal for Western allies to provide more military aid.
“The main priority this year is to strengthen air defense not only to protect cities and towns, but also to protect front-line positions,” President Zelenskyy posted on Tuesday.
Analysts say Russia is stockpiling missiles in preparation for winter airstrikes, while Ukraine is trying to attack Russian territory with new drones.
A US think tank said Russia may have used a decoy missile in Tuesday’s attack to punch holes in Ukraine’s air defenses.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War says ballistic missiles can be more effective in some situations, so the Russian government is trying to acquire more ballistic missiles from foreign countries, including Iran and North Korea. He said it was highly likely.
Late Tuesday, another barrage of Russian S-300 missiles struck a residential area of Kharkiv, wounding nine people and damaging residential buildings, regional governor Ole Sinyevov said.
Although Russia denies its military attacks on civilian areas, there is substantial evidence to the contrary.
Also on Wednesday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense forces shot down four Ukrainian drones in the Oryol region of western Russia. Oryol Mayor Yuri Parakhin said several drones were shot down over the city and there were no casualties.
Another Ukrainian drone was shot down over the Belgorod border region early Wednesday morning, Gladkov said. He said there were no casualties or damage.
According to Governor Alexander Bogomaz, two Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Bryansk region in the evening.
Ukraine’s allies have pledged further military aid, even as resources are stretched to the limit. Aid from the United States, Ukraine’s single largest donor, has also run into political problems.
Germany’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that it plans to send six Sea King Mk41 helicopters to Ukraine.
