MOSCOW/KIEV — Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed Wednesday that Ukraine fired two missiles at the Il-76 military transport plane, killing all 74 people on board.
“At 11:15 a.m. today, the Kiev regime committed a terrorist act, as a result of which a Russian military transport plane was shot down,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding that all on board were killed.
The statement said the plane was transporting Ukrainian military personnel for a prisoner exchange when it was struck while en route from Chkalovsky airfield to Belgorod.
“Ukrainian forces destroyed the aircraft using anti-aircraft missile systems,” the spokesperson said, adding that Russian radar equipment detected the launch of two Ukrainian missiles.
The Defense Ministry said Ukraine knew that the prisoners would be transferred to Belgorod for an exchange based on an agreement previously reached between the two countries.
According to a Russian statement, Kiev’s actions were an attempt to hold Russia responsible for the deaths of Ukrainian military personnel on board.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov said on Wednesday that the Ukrainian side is confirming reports that Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board the Il-76 plane.
He also said a prisoner exchange with Russia had been called off, Ukraineska Pravda reported.
“I can say that the exchange scheduled for today is not currently taking place,” Yusof was quoted as saying.
On the same day, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported, citing Ukrainian Defense Ministry officials, that a Russian Il-76 fighter jet was shot down shortly after takeoff.
