This is a live blog from CNBC tracking developments in the Ukraine war. See below for the latest updates.
Question marks and suspicions surround Wednesday’s downing of a Russian military transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners and nine Russians.
Russia claimed Ukraine was responsible for the plane crash, using Western missiles to shoot down the Ilyushin 76 military transport plane over the Belgorod border area, killing all aboard the plane as it was en route to a prisoner exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kiev would thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the crash, adding that “the facts” were the top priority. He accused Russia of “playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war, the feelings of their relatives and the feelings of our society.”
Details of the plane crash emerged on Wednesday morning, but Kiev was initially silent. Later, Ukrainian intelligence acknowledged that a prisoner exchange was planned but did not take place.
It said there was no “reliable and comprehensive information about exactly who and how many people were on board” the plane.
“The Ukrainian side was not informed about the need to ensure the security of the airspace in the Belgorod city region within a certain period of time, as has repeatedly happened in the past,” the agency added.
Separately, Ukraine’s military said in a statement that it would continue to “suppress the airspace to destroy the terrorist threat” with attacks across the border from Belgorod into Ukraine’s Kharkov region.
President Zelensky accuses Russia of ‘playing with’ prisoners’ lives, says Kiev will establish ‘facts’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Wednesday that Kiev would thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the downing of a Russian military transport plane that was said to be carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners.
President Zelenskiy said in a speech last night: “We need to establish all the clear facts. Considering that the plane crash took place on Russian territory, it is not possible, given that it was outside of our control. as long as possible.”
“It is clear that the Russians are playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners of war, the feelings of their relatives and the feelings of our society,” he said.
“Right now, ‘facts’ is the key word,” he added, adding that he had convened senior officials from Ukraine’s military and intelligence services to report on the plane crash. He then said he had tasked them with “clarifying the fate of all prisoners” and “investigating all circumstances.”
President Zelensky said he had instructed the Foreign Ministry to inform Ukraine’s allies about the matter. “Our country insists on an international investigation,” he said.
Russia on Wednesday accused the Ukrainian military of shooting down the plane with a Western-provided missile, saying it was on its way to a prisoner exchange. Ukrainian intelligence confirmed that a prisoner exchange was planned but did not take place.
The agency did not accept responsibility for the shootdown, but said: “The Ukrainian side was not informed of the need to ensure the security of the airspace in the Belgorod city area within a certain period of time, as has been the case repeatedly in the past.” said. past. “
It said there was no “reliable and comprehensive information about exactly who and how many people were on board” the plane.
Separately, Ukraine’s military said in a statement that it would “continue to control the airspace to destroy the terrorist threat” from attacks across the border from Belgorod into Ukraine’s Kherson region.
— Holly Ellyatt
Ukrainian military announces continued “airspace control” in Belgorod-Kharkov direction
Ukraine’s military announced on Wednesday that it would continue “airspace control” to reduce the missile threat “including in the Belgorod-Kharkov direction” after a Russian military transport plane crashed in the Russian border region of Belgorod.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces is taking all measures to protect Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” the General Staff said in a statement posted on Facebook, according to an NBC translation.
The newspaper said 16 people were killed last week in 19 Russian rocket attacks on the Kharkov region, which borders Belgorod.
It also said it was monitoring missile launch sites and their transport logistics, particularly through military aircraft, to reduce the threat of attack.
“The intensity of the recorded shelling is directly related to the recent increase in the number of military transport aircraft heading towards the Belgorod airfield. In view of this, the Ukrainian military continues to take measures to destroy transports. “We will take measures to control the airspace to destroy terrorist threats, including in the direction of Belgorod-Kharkov,” the statement continued.
Russia said it had 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war and nine Russians on board, without specifically mentioning the plane that crashed early Wednesday. The Belgorod governor announced that all passengers were killed.
— Jenny Reid
Ukraine suggests Russia failed to provide information on prisoners’ routes after shooting down plane
Ukraine suggested on Wednesday that Russia had not communicated the need to create safe airspace after a military plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners was shot down ahead of the exchange.
Ukrainian intelligence services said that reliable and comprehensive information about the number of people on board and passengers was not yet available.
Earlier, Russia accused Ukraine of shooting down the plane, saying 65 Ukrainian prisoners and nine Russians were killed.
Ukraine confirmed that a prisoner exchange was scheduled for Wednesday but did not take place.
“On the Ukrainian side, we have implemented all agreements for preparations for the exchange. The captured Russian military personnel were delivered on time to the designated exchange point, where they were kept safely,” Ukraine’s Ministry of Information said in a statement. mentioned in.
“According to the agreement, the Russian side had to ensure the security of our garrison. At the same time, the Ukrainian side was informed about the need to ensure the security of the airspace of the Belgorod city area in certain regions. “For a period of time, as has happened repeatedly in the past. ”
He also said he had not been informed about the number of vehicles, their route or the mode of transportation of the prisoners.
“This may indicate deliberate Russian action aimed at threatening the lives and safety of prisoners of war.”
Separately, the Ukrainian military said it had targeted and would continue to target military aircraft crossing the border from Belgorod, Russia, to Kharkov, Ukraine, following a number of airstrikes in the region.
— Jenny Reid
Russian Ministry of Defense statement on plane crash
The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a telegraphed statement on Wednesday providing details about the military plane crash in Belgorod, saying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war and nine other Russians were killed. Ukraine has not yet publicly commented on the crash.
The full statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is below:
At 11:15 a.m. today, the Kiev regime carried out a terrorist act that resulted in the shooting down of a Russian military transport plane that was flying over Chkalovsky Belgorod airfield to transport Ukrainian military personnel for exchange.
The plane was destroyed by Ukrainian forces from the Liptsi district of Kharkiv region. [Kharkiv] Areas with anti-aircraft missile systems. Radar equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces detected the launch of two Ukrainian missiles. The plane was carrying six crew members, 65 replacement Ukrainian military personnel, and three accompanying Russian military personnel. All the plane’s crew and passengers were killed.
The Ukrainian leadership was well aware that today Ukrainian military personnel would be transported to Belgorod airfield on military transport aircraft for exchange, according to established practice.
According to a previously reached agreement, the event was scheduled to take place in the afternoon at the Korotilovka checkpoint on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Nevertheless, the Nazi Kiev regime took this step in pursuit of its goal of holding Russia responsible for the destruction of the Ukrainian military.
By carrying out this terrorist attack, the Ukrainian leadership showed its true colors in its disregard for the lives of its people.
Russia routinely and baselessly describes the Kiev government as a “Nazi regime” in order to demonize its leadership and justify its invasion of Ukraine.
— Holly Ellyatt
Downed Russian plane was part of POW convoy, says lawmaker
Russian lawmakers say the Russian military transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners shot down over the Belgorod region on Wednesday may have been part of a two-plane convoy en route to a prisoner exchange with Ukraine. suggested.
Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Andrei Kartapolov told RBC news agency that the Ilyushin 76 military transport plane “was shot down by three Patriot or IRIS-T missiles,” which were supplied to the Ukrainian military by Western allies. It was something.
Kartapolov said the plane was followed by another Il-76 carrying more prisoners. The second plane was reportedly diverted.
“Then a second Il-76 plane was flying, carrying about 80 more prisoners, but they managed to turn around,” Kartapolov said.
“The Ukrainian leadership was well aware of the impending exchange and was informed about the method of handing over the prisoners,” he said in a speech at the State Duma, according to a translation of comments by NBC News.
CNBC was unable to verify this claim.
— Holly Ellyatt
CNBC’s previous live coverage can be viewed here.
Russian military plane crashes in border area, Moscow says 65 Ukrainian prisoners were on board