A Russian plane crashed and killed all 74 people, including dozens of Ukrainian servicemen, on board. The crash occured in Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border.
The border city of Belgorod was the site of one of the deadliest Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil late last year. At least 24 people, including three children, were killed and 108 others wounded in the attacks. These attacks prompted retaliatory attacks by Russia against Ukraine.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the Russian military plane was shot down by anti-aircraft missiles.
The Russian Defense Ministry blamed Ukraine for the downing of the Ilyushin-76 cargo plane inside Russian airspace, 5 to 6 kilometers (about 3 to 3.7 miles) from the village of Yablonovo in the Korocha district.
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a Soviet-era military transport aircraft with a payload of more than 50 tons cargo capacity. It has also been in service since 1975.
The Russian defense ministry stated, in a statement, that the Ukraine military had used an anti-aircraft missile system to target the aircraft.
They have termed the attack on the military aircraft as ‘an act of terrorism’.
“The plane was destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the area of Liptsy, Kharkiv region, using an anti-aircraft missile system,” the ministry statement reads in part.
The Defense Ministry further adds that their radar system picked out the launch of the missiles by the Ukrainians.
“The radar equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces observed the launch of two Ukrainian missiles,” the statement adds.
On their part, the Ukrainians claimed that the Russian plane was carrying missiles for the S-300 air defense system.
Claims of prisoner swaps in downed plane
The Ukrainian government said it was investigating claims that the plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian servicemen being flown to Belgorod for a prisoner swap.
Kyiv also confirmed that a prisoner of war exchange with Russia had been due to take place on Wednesday.
Sources in the Russian government stated that another plane, an IL-76, which was carrying an additional 80 prisoners of war, was diverted in the aftermath of this tragic crash.
